Jul
16
In a nutshell….
While this French Quarter jewel has been opperated as a restaurant since 1920, the walls within run deeply through New Orleans history, bridging the gap between present-day Broussard’s and the excitement and intrigue of the mid 1800’s. Comprised of 3 exquisite dining rooms and a lavish courtyard which houses the oldest and largest Wisteria in the French Quarter, the pieces of Broussard’s grand design each have their own unique story…
THE MAGNOLIA ROOM The oldest building of the restaurant complex is that now occupied by the Magnolia Room. It was originally built in the 1830’s as the stables for the Hermann and Grima families’ home on Saint Louis street. At that time, the Hermann-Grima property ran through the entire center of the block from Saint Louis to Conti Street. The restaurant’s restoration of the stable building “uncovered exceptionally fine examples of construction and design techniques, substantially preserving the original fabric.” This statement was made by the architectural historians of The Vieux Carre’ Commission for the Vieux Carre’ Survey, which rates in order of historical importance, the existing Vieux Carre’ buildings. This building rated among the highest. THE JOSEPHINE ROOM The building now occupied by the Josephine Room was built pre-1876, and originally used as the washroom for the Hermann-Grima home. A small Creole cottage once occupied the area now fronting Conti Street. The buildings on this property from 1835 to 1885 were occupied by the Jefferson Academy, a leading boys’ academy that specialized from the primary grade to the completion of the academic course in a curriculum of English, French, writing, mathematics, geography, history, bookkeeping and fencing. Fencing was once a necessary part of a boy’s proper training in New Orleans. THE NAPOLEON ROOM The ravages of time caused the front Conti Street cottage to be razed to make room for the present building, that which you enter as the present-day foyer and Napoleon room of Broussard’s. This was between 1900 and 1929. This area used to be a very long carriage way, leading up to the Hermann-Grima Mansion. Broussard's Restaurant in the French Quarter
819 Rue Conti New Orleans, Louisiana 70112
Phone: 504-581-3866
Fax: 504-581-3873
Email Broussards@Broussards.com