This bronze figure of Ignatius J. Reilly was dedicated in 1996 and pays homage to one of the greatest satirical novels, "A Confederacy of Dunces" by John Kennedy Toole. The statue was located here because it was the location of D.H Holmes Department Store, which is the setting in the book. The former New Orleans department store is now home to Hyatt Centric hotel.
The only high-rise building located in New Orleans’ French Quarter, the Hotel Monteleone, in one form or another, has stood at the corner of Royal and Iberville Streets since 1886. Over the years, the original Hotel Monteleone was expanded until it was razed to make room for the current iteration in 1954. It now contains 600 guest rooms, to include 50 suites. It is also home to New Orleans’ only rotating bar, the Carousel Piano Bar and Lounge and numerous literary luminaries have graced its halls, rooms, and lounges over the years. It is a member of Historic Hotels of America and was deemed an official literary landmark by the Friends of the Library Association in 1999.
Founded in 1966 by General L. Kemper Williams and his wife Leila, the Historic New Orleans Collection (HNOC) is a museum, research center, and publisher dedicated to preserving the history and culture of New Orleans and the Gulf South. The organization has restored seven architectural treasures between its Royal Street Complex and the Williams Research Center and on Chartres Street. Its four exhibition spaces—the Williams Gallery, the Louisiana History Galleries, the Boyd Cruise Gallery, and the new Laura Simon Nelson Galleries for Louisiana Art—faithfully depict the multicultural stories of the region, from permanent displays exploring the evolution of Louisiana to rotating exhibitions showcasing history and fine art. Researchers—dedicated scholars and casual history buffs—can access THNOC’s materials through the Williams Research Center.
This address was one of several places in New Orleans where renowned American playwright Tennessee Williams once lived. Although he only lived here a short time, it was in this apartment that Williams began to write his famous play A Streetcar Named Desire. The actual apartment that Williams lived in is no longer here, but the back staircase he used to access his living quarters still remains.
This building was completed in 1840 and is best known for the 1920s, when it was the home of William Faulkner. It was here where Faulkner wrote his first novel in 1925, Soldiers’ Pay. Faulkner's novel tells the story of an aviator returning home to Georgia after World War I. The original home was built for another famous person, the widow of Jean Baptiste LaBranche. Her home was built upon the ground where the French Colonial prison once stood.
During the 1920 great American author Sherwood Anderson (1876-1941) hosted literary salons at this location. Many future literary giants came here including Gertrude Stein, William Faulkner, and Carl Sandburg. Anderson played a large role in helping jumpstart their careers. The marker was placed here in 1998 by the Friends of Libraries USA and Friends of the New Orleans Public Library.
Built in 1826, the Chartres Street house is named after two of its most famous former occupants: Confederate General Pierre Gustave Toutant (P.G.T.) Beuregard and American author Frances Parkinson Keyes. However, over several generations, many other notable Americans also lived in this historic house, including a world chess champion and a Swiss consul. Additionally, the house was at various points used for a liquor business (during which a famous murder occurred), a home for homeless men, and Alcoholics Anonymous. With its rich and diverse history, the home tells an interesting story of New Orleans.
This Tour is a Thematic Tour or Heritage Trail.
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Starting at the statue of Ignatius J. Reily and Hotel Monteleone, the infamous hangout of many New Orleans writers, this short walk includes a pair of museums and several landmarks including the former homes of Tennessee Williams and William Faulkner. Be sure to also use Clio to see other New Orleans literary landmarks such as the George Washington Cable House.
