Page 99 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - New Orleans

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The building faces Lafayette In September 2006, the
Square, which was laid out in Superdome reopened after a
1788 as Place Gravier, and $193 million restoration.
renamed in 1824. The square As the world’s largest steel-
contains statues of statesman constructed stadium that is
Benjamin Franklin by Hiram unobstructed by posts, it has
Powers, and famed Senator hosted the Super Bowl more
Henry Clay by Joel T. Hart. times than any other facility:
John McDonogh, the great Super Bowl XXXVI in 2002 was
benefactor of the New Orleans the sixth to be held here.
public schools, is remembered The Smoothie King Center,
with a statue by Atallio Piccirilli. the “babydome,” opened in
Today, the building is a popular 1999. In 2002, the Charlotte,
Greek Revival-style facade of Gallier Hall, vantage point during the North Carolina, Hornets
built in the 19th century famous Mardi Gras parades professional basketball team
(see pp30–31). moved to New Orleans,
q Gallier Hall became the home team,
545 St. Charles Ave. Map 4 B4. Tel 658- w Mercedes-Benz and were renamed the New
3627. v St. Charles. Open for tours Superdome Orleans Pelicans. The arena is
only: 10am, 11am, noon, 2pm, 3pm. also home to the Tulane
∑ nola.gov/gallier-hall/ Sugar Bowl Drive. Map 4 A3. University basket ball team.
Tel 587-3663. @ 16. v St.Charles.
James Gallier, Sr.’s master piece Open for sporting events only. 7 &
was built between 1845 and ∑ mbsuperbowl.com Smoothie e Saenger Theatre
1853, at a cost of $342,000. King Center: 1501 Girod St. Map 4 A3. 143 N Rampart St. Map 4 B2.
Con structed of bricks that were Tel 587-3663. ∑ smoothieking Tel 525-1052. @ 3, 41. v St. Charles.
plastered and scored to look center.com ∑ saengernola.com
like stone, the building is 215 ft
(65.5 m) deep, extending This flying saucer-shaped This beautiful Italian Renaissance
behind a facade only 90 ft landmark is home to local football theater opened in 1927 as a
(27 m) wide. Six fluted Ionic teams the Saints and Tulane cinema. Designed by Emile Weil,
columns support the tymp- University’s Green Wave. It is it features an elegant mezzanine
anum on the facade, which is also the venue for the annual and towering arcade, while the
decorated with bas-reliefs of Sugar Bowl, and other sports main theater space is made to
Justice and Commerce created and entertainment events. It look like the courtyard of an
by Robert A. Launitz. was built between 1971 and Italian villa, with archways and
Gallier Hall was built to serve 1975; it occupies 52 acres, statuary decorating the walls.
as the headquarters of the and stands 27 stories high. The ceiling is accented by some
Second Municipality when the The Superdome has become 150 tiny lights, which resemble
city was briefly served by three synonymous with the suffering stars in the night sky. Heavily
separate governments. In 1852, of those affected by Hurricane damaged by the flood of 2005,
it became City Hall, when the Katrina. It was here that many the Saenger sat empty for years.
three were reunited. Many great thousands sought refuge from New owners have returned this
historical figures have lain in the flood waters. The building land mark building to its former
state here, including Jefferson was severely damaged by wind, glory, and the theater re-opened
Davis, president of the Confed- flooding, and the frustrations of in 2013 to host touring
eracy, and General Beauregard. the desperate people it harbored. Broadway shows.

The Mercedes-Benz Superdome, one of the world’s largest indoor stadiums

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