New Orleans History -- Lake Pontchartrain
Thursday, December 05, 2024
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Photo Albums

1600s

French explorer Pierre LeMoyne Sieur d'Iberville (March 26 - 30) enters the waterway, which his men name the d'Iberville River (later to be renamed Bayou Manchac)...
 

1700s

Bienville founded the City of New Orleans at present site because of easy access to the Mississippi River through Lake Pontchartrain and Bayou St. John...
 

1800s

1808 - While George Farragut was fishing one day on Lake Pontchartrain...
 
 

1810s

 
New Orleans becomes part of the United States after the Louisiana Purchase. Several important ports flourish on Lake Pontchartrain's shores...
 

1820s

 
Alligator Pond at Spanish Fort...
 

1830s

 
The Pontchartrain Railroad was the second completed in the United States. It began operation in 1831...
 

1840s

 
Founded in 1849, the Southern Yatch club, the second oldest in the United States, prospered enough to building this attractive frame structure in 1879...
 

1850s

 
Article from HARPER'S NEW MONTLY MAGAZINE, December 1858. Woodcut engraving 'The Light-House, Lake Pontchartrain'....
 

1860s

 
Now it is not only the wealthy who get to enjoy the lakeshore resorts. Families spend their holidays by taking 'Smoky Mary,' the train to Milneberg...
 

1870s

 
Beginning about 1871 and fully developed by 1880 the man-made land of West End near the entrance to the Basin, with its park and pathways, bandstand, pavillions...
 

1880s

 
Sailing boats on Lake Pontchartrain, The Southern Yacht Club-Captain William L. Challoner c. 1880...

1910s

Click Here to hear "Livery Stable Blues" recorded in 1917 by the New Orleans Dixieland Jass Band. This is the first jazz recorded ever recorded.

1920s

Click Here to hear "Camp Meeting Blues" recorded in 1923 by Joe "King" Oliver

1928-1983 Pontchartrain Beach

Originally at Spanish Fort, Pontchartrain Beach moved to the Milneburg (now U.N.O.) area in 1928. For 55 years, Pontchartrain Beach was the annual summertime destination for many New Orleanians but was for 'whites only' until the mid 1960s (Linclon Beach served Black residents from 1955-65).

Many older New Orleans referred to Pontchartrain Beach as 'Milenburg'--the common mispronuncian of 'Milneburg'.

Click Here to hear a Pontchartrain Beach radio commercial from the early 1960s (found on Bob Walkers website).

1960s

Click Here to hear the Pontchartrain Beach Jingle as well as a 1960s radio commercial for 'the beach' (from Bob Walker's website)

1970s

 
Pontchartrain Beach swimming area closes due to unacceptable levels of pollution...
 

1980s

 
1983 print (1500 issued) by Randy McGovern...
 

1990s

 
Shell Dredging is halted in Lake Pontchartrain...
 

2000s

 
Parts of Lake Pontchartrain are declared safe for swimming...
 

Aerial Maps

1994 - Prior to Hurricane Georges
Click the image for an enlarged view.

Amusement Parks & Resorts at Spanish Fort

Before you begin this blast from the past you might want to click here to hear Alligator Crawl recorded by Louis Armstrong & his Hot Seven in 1927.

Baronne Street

Bourbon Street

Canal Street

Common Street

Decatur St.

February

Jefferson Highway

Labarre Road

Metairie History

 

Milneburg/Pontchartrain Beach/Uno

Monticello Avenue

Music Info

 
Jazz was born & bred at Milneburg, Spanish Fort, Little Woods, Bucktown, and West End. In later years Jazz, the Blues, Soul, & Rock could be heard at Pontchartrain Beach & Lincoln Beach Amusement Parks. Click on the photos (below) to view larger versions.

Orleans Street

Poydras Street

Pre-History

Native Americans were the first settlers along Bayou St. John & the Lakefront. They later showed the French the route from the Lake, down Bayou St. John, to the river.

Restaurants

1859 -- 2005

Royal Street

Royal Street -- People and Places

Under Construction

Spanish Fort/Bayou St. John/Old Beach

St. Charles

Tchoupitoulas Street

The 60s

The Best

The Camps

The French Quarter's People and Places

The Lakefront

Toulouse Street

Unidentified

Click on the photo to view a larger image.

West End

What is this?

What's the point?