Bourbon Street
[3][4] The French claimed Louisiana in the 1690s, and Jean Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville was appointed Director General in charge of developing a colony in the territory.
[6] During the 19th century, New Orleans was similar to other Southern cities in that its economy was based on selling cash crops, such as sugar and tobacco.
[6] This changed in the late 1800s and early 1900s, when the Storyville red-light district was constructed on Basin Street adjacent to the French Quarter.
[10] Jazz is said to have developed here, with artists such as King Oliver and Jelly Roll Morton providing musical entertainment at the brothels.
Simultaneously, with the wartime influx of people, property owners opened adult-centered nightclubs to capitalize on the city's risqué image.
Wartime Bourbon Street was memorably depicted in Erle Stanley Gardner's detective novel "Owls Don't Blink".
[16] One third of the city's operating budget, approximately $6 billion before Katrina, came from visitors and conventions, so officials saw tourism as vital for post-disaster economic recovery.
[15] The New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corporation initiated efforts to draw visitors back to the city, featuring celebrities such as Emeril Lagasse and Patricia Clarkson with the slogan, "Come fall In love with Louisiana all over again.
Advertising campaigns gave the impression that New Orleans was thriving, while city leaders asked for increased federal financial assistance and National Guard troops to help control municipal crime waves.
[18] The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 profoundly impacted this renowned destination, triggering a series of unprecedented challenges and transformations that reverberated throughout the local community and beyond.
The implementation of strict public health measures, including lockdowns and capacity restrictions, dealt a significant blow to the area's economy, particularly its hospitality sector.
[19] According to a report by The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate, the closure of bars, restaurants, and entertainment venues along Bourbon Street led to substantial revenue losses and widespread layoffs, plunging many businesses into financial distress.
[19] Moreover, the absence of tourists, who typically flock to the street year-round, further exacerbated the economic downturn, with hotel occupancy rates plummeting to historic lows.
Traditional gatherings and cultural events, such as Mardi Gras festivities and live music performances, were either canceled or significantly scaled back to comply with public health guidelines.
The profound impact of these cancellations on the local community was highlighted in a study conducted by researchers from Tulane University, which underscored the emotional toll of lost traditions and communal rituals.
In the 21st century, Bourbon Street is the home of New Orleans Musical Legends Park, a free, outdoor venue for live jazz performances.
Popular spots include Pat O'Brien's, Johnny White's, the Famous Door, Spirits on Bourbon, Channing Tatum's Saints and Sinners, Razzoo and The Cat's Meow.
The intersection of Bourbon and St. Ann Streets is also the center of the Labor Day weekend event Southern Decadence, commonly referred to as the Gay Mardi Gras, which attracts upwards of 100,000 participants.
[32] On September 21, 2012, the ACLU of Louisiana won[33] a temporary restraining order against the ban, on behalf of Kelsey McCauley (Bohn), a woman who converted to Christianity through a religious group's activities on Bourbon Street.
On July 25, 2013, the New Orleans City Council voted 6-0[34] to amend the law and exempt Bourbon Street from the ban, with legal language found acceptable by the participating attorneys.
