Gallier Hall

Gallier Hall

Gallier Hall, facing Lafayette Square, New Orleans
Location 545 St. Charles Avenue, New Orleans, LA
Coordinates 29°56′46.76″N 90°4′17.01″W / 29.9463222°N 90.0713917°W / 29.9463222; -90.0713917Coordinates: 29°56′46.76″N 90°4′17.01″W / 29.9463222°N 90.0713917°W / 29.9463222; -90.0713917
Built 1845
Architect James Gallier, Sr.
Architectural style Greek Revival
NRHP Reference # 74002250 [1]
Significant dates
Added to NRHP May 30, 1974
Designated NHL May 30, 1974[2]

Gallier Hall is an historic building on St. Charles Avenue in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. It is the former New Orleans city hall, and continues in civic use. Built 1845-53, it is a nationally significant example of Greek Revival architecture, and one of the finest works of architect James Gallier.[3] It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1974.

Description and history

Gallier Hall is located on St. Charles Avenue at Lafayette Square in the Central Business District. The building was originally designed to be the city hall of New Orleans by the noted architect, James Gallier, Sr.. Construction began in 1845, and the building was dedicated on 10 May 1853. Gallier Hall is a three-story marble structure fronted by two rows of fluted Ionic columns in the Neoclassical style. It is one of the most important structures built during the antebellum period of the city.

After its dedication in 1853, Gallier Hall remained the city hall for just over a century. Many important events during the Civil War, Reconstruction, and the era of Louisiana governor Huey Long took place at Gallier Hall.

After the City Hall was moved to the modern complex at Duncan Plaza in the 1950s, old Gallier Hall nonetheless continued its traditional place of honor during Mardi Gras. Viewing galleries in front of the hall are reserved for Mardi Gras royalty, and parades on the St. Charles route pause in front of them. Marching bands typically perform shows here during the parades. On Mardi Gras Day the mayor of New Orleans toasts the kings of the Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Club and Rex Parade here.

Gallier Hall is currently a convention center, reception hall, and home of The Ty Tracy Theatre, named for the late Artistic Director who ran the New Orleans Recreational Department Theatre. Today, The Ty Tracy Theatre is home to Julie Condy's Crescent City Lights Youth Theatre.

It also serves special civic functions, including inaugurations of mayors, and particularly distinguished New Orleanians are sometimes laid in state here after their deaths as a sign of deep citywide respect.

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gallier Hall.

References

  1. ↑ National Park Service (2007-01-23). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
  2. ↑ "Gallier Hall". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Retrieved 2008-06-24.
  3. ↑ "NHL nomination for Gallier Hall" (PDF). National Park Service. Retrieved 2016-01-06.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 11/25/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.