What you’ve heard is true: Jackson Square in New Orleans is pure magic.
The historic park located in the heart of the French Quarter, right in front of the majestic St. Louis Cathedral, is framed by charming red-brick buildings and the oldest apartments in the country.
There is always people here. You’ll find them making art, sipping chicory coffee (or a hurricane), and soaking in the magic of the moment.
Jackson Square in New Orleans feels like the soul of the city made visible. It’s alive, colorful, and impossible not to love.
This post will show you why Jackson Square in New Orleans should be at the top of your list.
Why I’m qualified to write this guide to Jackson Square
As a Texan, I take 1-3 trips per year to NOLA, and with every visit I only fall more in love.
I’ve also collaborated with the super talented Nola Tour Guy on walking tours and insider guides to New Orleans for years.
This city will always have my heart <3
Is Jackson Square Worth Visiting?
Short Answer: Absolutely.
Jackson Square in New Orleans is the beating heart of the city and has been a main gathering place since 1721.
This is where Louisiana officially became part of the United States in 1803 during the Louisiana Purchase. Where men of every race stood side by side, fighting not for themselves but for a shared dream of freedom in the Battle of New Orleans.
Today, the square is filled with live music, local art, street performances, and beautiful architecture.
Whether you’re wandering through for the first time or the 50th, you’ll feel the layers of history come alive around you (literally, I would know because I’ve been there 1000 times).
It’s not just worth visiting, it’s a must.
Is Jackson Square in New Orleans Safe?
Yes, Jackson Square in New Orleans is generally safe during the day and into the early evening.
After around 10 or 11 PM, it can feel a little eh, especially if you’re alone.
Walking through with friends or in a group is fine, but I recommend avoiding it solo late at night.
Read: What to Wear in New Orleans by the Month
Why Jackson Square is Famous
So why is Jackson Square famous?
Girl it’s hard to explain until you’ve been… but, basically it’s a the central meeting point in the French Quarter, alive with artists, music, tourists, and magic.
Also, this is the site where, in 1803, the Louisiana Territory was officially transferred to the U.S.
It’s also one of the oldest town squares in the country; think of all the small and large moments in American and human history that this place has witnessed over time.
No matter where your day begins, every tourist eventually finds themselves in Jackson Square.
Read: Guide to Swamp Tours Near New Orleans
A Brief History
Originally called Place d’Armes by the French, Jackson Square in New Orleans was the center of early colonial life, just like it’s the center of the French Quarter now.
The Spanish Plaza de Armas: When Spain conquered in the 18th century, they renamed the area Plaza de Armas and began rebuilding it after the massive fire of 1788. The St. Louis Cathedral was reconstructed in 1789, the Cabildo followed in 1795, and the Presbytère in 1813.
Battle of New Orleans & Andrew Jackson: After the Battle of New Orleans in 1815, the Square was renamed Jackson Square after General Andrew Jackson, and in 1856, the famous statue of him was put in its center.
Executions: The Square was also a site of the public executions of criminals and slaves that took place here in the 18th and early 19th centuries. Following the 1811 German Coast Uprising, several rebels were murdered in the square, and their heads were displayed as a warning.
So yeah, a lot going on.
Read: The Truth About the French Quarter of New Orleans
The Square Today
From the 1920s to the 1980s, Jackson Square in New Orleans was a hot spot for artists and performers of every flavor.
Painters, caricaturists, and students gathered daily, turning the square into an open-air gallery. By the 1960s, tarot readers and palmists also gathered there.
Today, you’ll still find artists selling their work along the iron fence; musicians, street performers, and fortune tellers are in Jackson Square nearly 24/7.
And the cathedral, Cabildo, and Presbytère still watch over the action, even after all these centuries.
Read: The Streets of New Orleans
Things To Do in Jackson Square
There’s never a dull moment in New Orleans and def not at Jackson Square.
Here’s what you can do while you’re there:
- Visit St. Louis Cathedral: Visit the oldest continuously active Roman Catholic cathedral in the U.S.
- Explore the Cabildo: This Spanish colonial building was once New Orleans’ town hall and the site where the Louisiana Purchase transfer was signed. Today, the Cabildo is a museum of Louisiana’s long history.
- Tour the Presbytère: Home to cool exhibits on Mardi Gras and Hurricane Katrina.
- Buy local art: Dozens of local artists set up their displays along the wrought-iron fence that surrounds Jackson Square.
- Get your fortune told: All around the square, you’ll find tarot readers, palmists, etc at small, colorful tables (usually draped in a velvet cloth and decorated with crystals).
- Watch street performances: Watch jugglers, musicians, dancers, and magicians.
- Snap pics: Capture the beauty of the cathedral, the statue, and the charming architecture.
- Dine at Muriel’s Jackson Square: Just steps from the cathedral, Muriel’s has amazing Creole food in a gorgeous 1800s building. I go here every time I visit New Orleans, and it never lets me down!
- Grab a beignet: Walk to Cafe du Monde for a powdery treat and a chicory coffee.
- Shop nearby: Visit the Pontalba Buildings for cute boutiques and NOLA souvenirs.
Read: The Food Guide to New Orleans
Where to Take Pics in the Square
Obviously you want to get pics here.
The key is natural light, fun angles, and a little patience with the crowd. Take your time, getting pics is totally normal here:
- In front of St. Louis Cathedral: Def center your phone when taking pics here.
- By the Andrew Jackson statue: Use a low angle to make the statue look epic and get the whole thing in frame.
- On the steps of the Cabildo or Presbytère: Try a walking shot.
- Across Decatur Street: Take wide landscape pics early in the morning before it gets crowded.
Read: Best Souvenirs from New Orleans
Check in
Have you visited Jackson Square in New Orleans? Did you get your cards read or grab a beignet?
I’d love to hear what you thought.
Drop your experience in Jackson Square below.
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