Tremé Walking Tour & Photo Experience: Storyville District

Walk through a neighborhood most tourists miss, guided by someone who knows its real story

A 60-minute walking tour of the Tremé neighborhood and Storyville District in New Orleans, led by a live English-speaking guide. You'll visit Backatown Coffee Parlour at the site of historic Storyville, learn about the district's role as a red-light area from 1897 to 1917, see the Charity Hospital building and the Interstate 10 overpass that divided the community, and stop at the Mardi Gras Museum. The tour focuses on the authentic history and culture of this African American neighborhood rather than the typical tourist stops.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Tremé neighborhood and landmarks

• Visit Backatown Coffee Parlour
• Learn about Storyville District
• See Charity Hospital site
• View Interstate 10 impact area
• Tour Mardi Gras Museum

The Experience

The tour starts in the Tremé neighborhood and moves through the Storyville District, the area that was New Orleans' red-light district from 1897 to 1917. Your guide walks you through the streets and explains how the neighborhood developed, who shaped it, and what it meant to the city. Backatown Coffee Parlour sits on the exact site where that history happened—a gathering space that channels the era when musicians like Jelly Roll Morton and Louis Armstrong played in the district and people from all walks of life came together there.

Along the way, you'll see the Charity Hospital building, which closed after Hurricane Katrina and never reopened as a hospital, and you'll walk under the Interstate 10 overpass that runs above North Claiborne Avenue. That highway, built over fifty years ago, took homes and businesses from Tremé and cut down the oak trees that once lined the street. The tour explains how the neighborhood has carried that loss and what efforts are now underway to restore it. You'll also visit the Mardi Gras Museum, which shows the grassroots traditions and creativity behind the city's most famous celebration.

The whole experience takes about an hour to an hour and a half. A restroom is available during the tour. Public transportation stops are nearby if you're staying elsewhere in the city or don't have a car.

What’s included

• A live English-speaking guide.
• access to Backatown Coffee Parlour, the Storyville District, Charity Hospital, and the Mardi Gras Museum.
• a restroom during the tour.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Treme Luxury Experience

Is this one for you?If you're staying in the city without a car, this tour reaches you via public transportation and keeps you on foot through neighborhoods most visitors don't see. The guide's knowledge of the real history—not the sanitized version—is what makes the difference between walking past these streets and understanding why they matter.

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Top questions

What was Storyville and why does it matter to New Orleans history?

Storyville was the red-light district established by the city in 1897 to regulate prostitution, named after alderman Sidney Story who wrote the legislation. It operated until 1917 and became a center of music and culture, where musicians like Jelly Roll Morton and Louis Armstrong played. The tour explains how it shaped the neighborhood and the city's identity.

Can I take this tour if I don't have a car or I'm staying in a different part of the city?

Yes. Public transportation options are available near the tour starting point, so you can reach it without a car. The tour itself is entirely on foot through the Tremé and Storyville neighborhoods.

What does the tour say about the Interstate 10 overpass and why it matters?

The elevated stretch of Interstate 10 that runs above North Claiborne Avenue in Tremé was built over fifty years ago and took homes, businesses, and oak trees from the neighborhood. The tour explains how generations have worked toward removing or closing it and restoring the community, and how recent federal funding is now supporting that effort.

Is this tour suitable if I'm not in great physical shape?

Yes, the tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. It's a walking tour that takes an hour to an hour and a half, and a restroom is available during the experience.

Who leads the tour and what language is it in?

A live guide leads the tour in English. The guide is familiar with the neighborhood's history and the local businesses and community the tour supports.