Old Ursuline Convent, New Orleans
Old Ursuline Convent, New Orleans, French colonial convent in French Quarter, New Orleans, United States.
Description
The Old Ursuline Convent is a Neoclassical building with a symmetrical brick façade and columns facing Chartres Street in New Orleans. Multiple floors contain rooms arranged to show how the Ursuline sisters lived and worked within this structure.
History
Built between 1748 and 1752, this structure replaced an earlier 1734 building and stands as the oldest surviving French colonial architecture in the Mississippi Valley. The Ursulines played a central role in establishing and running early schools that served the community.
Culture
The Ursuline sisters ran the first school for girls in North America and cared for orphaned children, shaping education for generations in colonial New Orleans.
Practical
The convent sits in the French Quarter and welcomes visitors most days with guided tours that explain the building and its history. Wear comfortable shoes and allow time to slowly walk through the rooms and climb the original staircases.
Did you know?
An original cypress staircase from the 18th century winds through the building, showing how craftspeople worked with local materials during French colonial times. The furnishings and objects throughout the rooms come from this same era, offering a rare look at daily life in a convent.
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