Holy Cross in New Orleans

The Holy Cross neighborhood, located in the Lower Ninth Ward, is a less visited section of New Orleans comprised of low and middle-class homes.  Historically, this section housed many sugar plantations, and though today it is consider an inner city community and faces many challenges to prosperity, local organizations have worked to try to improve and beautify the neighborhood.

Hurricane Katrina damaged a big portion of the Holy Cross neighborhood, since it is located right on the Industrial Canal, but restoration efforts have been underway since then.  The local architecture is quite interesting, as many houses are built in the local shotgun style, and Creole cottages and bungalows are scattered throughout the area.

Military aficionados may want to stop by the Jackson Barracks Military Museum, which currently houses the Louisiana National Guard, but also has exhibits relating to the history of the barracks and the area.  They were originally built by President Andrew Jackson who feared attacks from the outside as well as revolts from within the city.

All in all, travelers are unlikely to find many other tourists here, and so can gain more of a local flavor of New Orleans, as opposed to the touristy and over-marketed parts of some of the rest of the city.