Churches & Monuments

Completed in 1734 and reputed to be the oldest building in New Orleans, Ursuline Convent is located at the corner of Ursuline and Chatres Streets (1112 Charters St.) in the Quarter. The structure escaped both of the city-devastating fires that occurred in 1788 and 1794. The Ursulines played an enormous part in New Orleans history as they educated the young women of the city. Today, the building is used as a storage facility by the Catholic church. It is also rumored that this is a favorite haunt for vampires, who allegedly gain entrance and exist to the building through the occasional open gable windows at night.




The Saint Louis Cathedral is the oldest Cathedral in the United States. Two other structures have stood where the present building is now located; one was destroyed by the Great Hurricane of 1723; the other burned in the Great Fire of 1788. The present building dates from around 1851.

Located between Basin St and Rampart St. (411 N. Rampart), Our Lady of Guadalupe has the rare and unique circumstance of housing the statue of a little known (and presumed) non-existent Saint—St. Expeditus, who is called upon by Voodoo ritualists who visit Marie Laveau’s grave in St. Louis Cemetery #1 across from the church on Basin Street. The voodoo ritualists then hurry over to the saint to ask for his blessing (i.e. to expedite the result). According to the Hieronymianum, the name ‘Expeditus’ occurs among a group of martyrs for both April 18^th and 19^th, but otherwise there is no tradition to corroborate the existence of such a saint. Nevertheless, St. Expeditus apparently answers the prayers and wishes and magic of many who call on him.

St. Anthony’s Garden located behind St. Louis Cathedral. Several hundred years ago, this was the location where duels would be fought. The marble shaft that was placed in this garden memorializes French marines who lost their lives who volunteered as nurses in the yellow fever epidemic of 1857.

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