by The Cabildo is a historical building in the French Quarter of New Orleans, right on Jackson Square next to the St. Louis Cathedral. Built between 1795 and 1799, it was originally the seat of the Spanish municipal government (“cabildo” is Spanish for “council”). In 1803, it served as the site of the Louisiana Purchase transfer ceremonies, after which the building served as a government building for Louisiana.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the Cabildo was the seat of the Louisiana Supreme court, and the landmark case Plessy v. Ferguson was heard there (the one that said “separate but equal” was ok, and then the country got very creative on what “equal” meant).
Since 1911, the building has been part of the Louisiana State Museum system.
An exhibit now on display entitled We Love You, New Orleans! was established in honor of the 300th anniversary of New Orleans; it celebrates “the people, places and things that make New Orleans one of the nation’s most unique cities.”
Most fun were the exhibits highlighting new artists for us. Hunt Slonem’s (b. 1951) work is vibrant and playful. Clementine Hunter’s (c. 1886-1988) paintings reflect her experiences living and working on Melrose Plantation in Louisiana for 75 years.
