Iberville is a neighborhood in New Orleans rich with history and culture, offering tourists a unique glimpse into the city’s past and its ongoing transformation.
Situated adjacent to the French Quarter, Iberville occupies the former site of Storyville, the city’s historic red-light district established in 1897. Storyville was renowned for its vibrant nightlife and is considered a birthplace of jazz, with legends like Louis Armstrong beginning their careers there. Though the district was demolished in the 1930s to make way for the Iberville Housing Projects, its legacy lives on in the city’s musical heritage.
Today, the neighborhood has undergone significant redevelopment, transforming the former housing projects into the Bienville Basin, a mixed-income residential area that preserves the architectural character of the original buildings. Visitors can explore nearby attractions such as St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, the oldest cemetery in New Orleans, and enjoy local establishments like Backatown Coffee Parlour, which offers a cozy atmosphere with a nod to the neighborhood’s jazz roots. Iberville’s proximity to the French Quarter and other central attractions makes it a convenient and culturally rich area for tourists to explore.