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Built in the 18th century, New Orleans' public square, or 'place d'armes,' is now known as Jackson Square. Today, it serves as more of a gathering place for tourists than townspeople.
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Hey Blake,
On Feb. 6, The Times-Picayune carried a front-page photograph and several other photographs picturing Britney Spears' MTV special being filmed here in New Orleans. The captions under all three photographs describe the performance as occurring "in Jackson Square." However, the photos revealed that the performance was occurring between the fenced portion of the square and the street in front of the Presbytere. Isn't Jackson Square technically just the fenced-in portion that encompasses the Place d'Armes?
Wayne M. Babovich
Dear Wayne,
Yes, of course it is. However, while our fine Place d'Armes has always been the heart of the city, there hasn't always been a fence surrounding it.
A place d'armes was considered a necessity in the plan of any fortified city. Military engineers in the 18th century agreed that it should be large, spacious and square and that the important buildings of the town such as the town hall, the church and the government house should all face it. No fence was required. So when plans were made for New Orleans in 1721, neither Pierre LaBlond de la Tour nor Adrien de Pauger wanted to break from tradition.
In 1803 when Gov. William Claiborne announced the transfer of the Louisiana Territory from France to the United States, there was no fence surrounding the not entirely enthusiastic crowd that gathered to watch the French colors being lowered and the American flag being raised on the flagpole in front of the Cabildo.
However, a few years later in 1812, the City Council paid M. J. Bte. Brouet $30 "for having turned the 20 cannon of wood which serves as limits around the banquette of the Public Square." These fake cannons were most likely the posts for a fence that was built around that time.
When Benjamin Henry Latrobe, the noted Washington architect, arrived in New Orleans in 1819, he wrote in his journal about the public square. He admired it greatly and called it "infinitely superior to anything in our American cities as a water view to the city." But he criticized the square itself for being neglected, noting in particular the "ragged" fence, broken in many places.
The truth was that the public square was a bit of a mess, and the mayor and City Council recognized the need for civic improvements in the "bare and somewhat unsightly expanse of untrimmed grass."
Both Latrobe and new City Surveyor Joseph Pilie submitted plans to provide a new fence and entrance gates to the square and a water fountain to ornament the center. While both plans were rejected, the Council did, in the 1820s, set out to tart up the square by erecting an iron fence and gates among other improvements. The water fountain didn't come until 1836.
The Place d' Armes we know today was re-designed in 1850 by city surveyor Louis Pilie, son of Joseph. He also designed the fence that still surrounds the square today. In the process of beautifying and transforming the Place d'Armes into Jackson Square in 1851, the old iron fence was removed. Local ironworkers, the Pelanne Brothers, were the successful bidders for the new fence and signed a contract for $15,825. Then Pilie supervised the erection of the present steps, iron fence, and gateways around the beautiful new square.
Up until the 1970s, there were streets surrounding the square. In September 1970, the streets were closed by the City Council, and a few years later, a pedestrian mall was created on Chartres, St. Peter and St. Ann streets.
You mentioned the Britney Spears MTV special being filmed in front of Jackson Square. While I am sure that it was something to see, there have been even more dramatic events that have taken place in the square throughout the years, both before and after it was fenced in, such as burning Indians at the stake, public executions, grand ceremonies, spectacular parades, funeral obsequies, and visits by Andrew Jackson, General Lafayette, Zachary Taylor, Charles De Gaulle, and Dwight D. Eisenhower. When the history books are revised, I'm not sure that Miss Spears will be included.
