Our Story
The Historic Holy Cross Neighborhood: A Legacy of Resilience
The Historic Holy Cross Neighborhood originated as early 19th-century sugar plantations. As a vital part of the Lower Ninth Ward, Holy Cross represents the easternmost expansion of New Orleans along the Mississippi River. In 1849, the Congregation of Holy Cross established an orphanage on the former Reynes Plantation, followed by a school in 1879 to serve a growing, diverse population of German, Italian, and Irish immigrants, native-born Americans, and Free People of Color. These groups established benevolent associations and mutual-aid societies that became the bedrock of the community.
Architectural Heritage and the "Porch Community"
This cultural tapestry is reflected in the neighborhood’s diverse architecture. Alongside traditional shotgun houses are Creole Cottages, bungalows, and Victorian and Queen Anne estates. Most iconic are the "Steamboat Houses" (or Doullut Houses) built by Captain Paul Doullut and his wife. Designed to resemble high-style steamboats, these ornate wooden landmarks were among the first designated by the Historic District Landmarks Commission and are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These homes helped foster a "porch community" where neighbors traditionally gathered to visit—a custom that remains a common sight today.
Agriculture and Industry
Historically, parcels in Holy Cross were larger than those in the Marigny or Bywater, allowing for small "truck farms" that produced crops for French Quarter restaurants through the 1940s. While the area thrived, the 1923 completion of the Industrial Canal—designed to connect the Mississippi River to Lake Pontchartrain—physically severed the Lower Ninth Ward and St. Bernard Parish from the rest of the city. This construction resulted in the destruction of numerous homes and the original Ursuline School.
Cultural and Civil Rights Significance
Holy Cross has long been a bastion of New Orleans’ musical and social traditions. It was the lifelong home of rock-and-roll legend Fats Domino, whose 2017 funeral second-line parade down St. Claude Avenue drew thousands. It remains home to artists, Mardi Gras Indians, and legendary musicians like George “Kid Sheik” Colar, Freddie Lonzo, and Shamarr Allen.
The neighborhood was also ground zero for the Civil Rights Movement. On November 14, 1960, while Ruby Bridges integrated William Frantz Elementary, the "McDonogh Three"—Leona Tate, Tessie Prevost, and Gail Etienne—integrated McDonogh 19 on St. Claude Avenue. Today, the Leona Tate Foundation for Change has transformed the formerly abandoned school into the TEP Center (Tate, Etienne, and Prevost Interpretive Center), a space dedicated to restorative justice, civil rights history, and affordable housing for seniors.
Challenges and the Path Forward
The neighborhood has survived immense trials, from the devastation of Hurricane Betsy in 1965 to the catastrophic levee failures of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. While the Holy Cross School has since relocated, the residential community continues to fight for its autonomy.
Current threats include:
The Industrial Canal Widening: A project that risks 20 years of industrial construction and the removal of the historic St. Claude Bridge—one of the last single Bascule Strauss Trunnion bridges in the U.S.
The "Grain Train": A proposed Alabo Street Wharf soybean terminal and deodorizing tower that would introduce heavy industrial rail traffic directly through residential streets.
Despite these challenges, Holy Cross is rebounding. New residents are discovering the neighborhood’s unique blend of "village" charm and city proximity. A stroll along the levee offers a panoramic history of New Orleans—from the spires of St. Louis Cathedral to the Crescent City Connection. With its spacious yards and enduring spirit, Holy Cross is steadily marching toward its full potential.