Did You Know Algiers and the French Quarter Were the First Places Discovered in New Orleans?

When people think of New Orleans, images of Bourbon Street, jazz music, and historic balconies in the French Quarter usually come to mind. But long before the city became a global cultural icon, two specific areas stood at the very beginning of its story: Algiers and the French Quarter. These neighborhoods weren’t just important—they were the first places discovered and developed in what would become New Orleans.

The Earliest Discoveries Along the Mississippi River

New Orleans exists because of the Mississippi River. Early explorers quickly realized the strategic importance of the high ground along its banks. The area that is now the French Quarter—originally known as Vieux Carré—sat on natural levees that stayed relatively dry compared to the surrounding swampland. This made it an ideal place for settlement, trade, and defense.

Across the river, Algiers also drew attention early on. Long before bridges connected the two sides, Algiers served as a key landing point and gateway into the region. Its location made it one of the first areas encountered by travelers approaching from the Gulf and moving upriver.

Why the French Quarter Became the City’s Heart

Founded in 1718 by Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville, the French Quarter became the city’s original footprint. Streets were laid out in a grid, homes and businesses quickly followed, and the area evolved into the political and economic center of early New Orleans. Today, landmarks like Jackson Square and St. Louis Cathedral sit on ground that has been active for more than 300 years.

The French Quarter wasn’t just a neighborhood—it was New Orleans itself in its earliest form.

Algiers: The Overlooked Beginning

While the French Quarter often gets the spotlight, Algiers holds an equally important place in the city’s origin story. As one of the earliest settled areas on the West Bank, Algiers functioned as a transportation hub, shipbuilding area, and entry point into New Orleans. Before roads and bridges, ferries made Algiers a crucial connector between the two sides of the river.

Over time, Algiers developed its own distinct identity, rich in history and culture, yet its role as one of the first discovered areas of the city is often overlooked.

A City Born on Both Sides of the River

The discovery and early development of both Algiers and the French Quarter show that New Orleans was never just a one-sided city. From the very beginning, life, commerce, and culture flowed across the Mississippi River. These two neighborhoods laid the foundation for everything New Orleans would become.

The Legacy Today

More than three centuries later, Algiers and the French Quarter remain living pieces of history. Walking their streets is like stepping back to the earliest days of the city, where explorers, traders, and settlers first recognized the promise of the land.

So the next time New Orleans’ history comes up, remember this: before the parades, the music, and the legends—Algiers and the French Quarter came first.