Holy Cross is a riverside neighborhood in New Orleans’ Lower Ninth Ward, named after the Holy Cross School established by the Congregation of Holy Cross in 1849. The school, originally known as St. Isidore’s College, became a central institution in the area, and its presence led to the neighborhood adopting the same name.
Developed on former plantation land owned by Bernard de Marigny, Holy Cross attracted German and Irish immigrants, as well as African Americans, in the 19th century. By 1900, it featured small farms supplying produce to city markets. The construction of the Industrial Canal in 1923 physically separated Holy Cross from the rest of New Orleans, reinforcing its distinct identity within the Lower Ninth Ward.
Architecturally, the neighborhood is known for its historic homes, including the unique “Steamboat Houses” built by riverboat captain Milton Doullut in the early 20th century.