Preservation Resource Center

Preservation Resource Center The PRC preserves New Orleans’ historic architecture, neighborhoods and cultural identity.
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What does “tout ensemble” mean?Literally, it means “all together.” But in New Orleans, the idea means so much more.In 19...
09/03/2026

What does “tout ensemble” mean?

Literally, it means “all together.” But in New Orleans, the idea means so much more.

In 1941, the Louisiana Supreme Court used the phrase tout ensemble to affirm that the French Quarter’s significance comes from the whole, not just from individual buildings. The architecture, streets, and character of the neighborhood work together to create something greater than the sum of its parts.

Today, that same idea takes on an even bigger meaning. As the only city selected for World Monuments Fund’s 2026 Irreplaceable America initiative, New Orleans is being recognized as an entire living, cultural landscape. Our neighborhoods, buildings, traditions, craftsmanship, and people are all part of what makes this city irreplaceable.

Tout ensemble. All together. Irreplaceable.

Read “All Together, Irreplaceable” on our website to learn more about the history of tout ensemble and what this idea means for the future of New Orleans.

https://prcno.org/all-together-irreplaceable/

📷 Photo by Chris Granger

Architecture: Rebuilt by Havana.If you’ve ever strolled down Royal Street in New Orleans, you’ve probably marveled at th...
09/01/2026

Architecture: Rebuilt by Havana.

If you’ve ever strolled down Royal Street in New Orleans, you’ve probably marveled at those grand pastel walls and intricate wrought-iron balconies. But here’s a charming piece of history that you may not know: the French Quarter’s biggest secret is that it isn't strictly French! After two catastrophic fires in 1788 and 1794 destroyed most of the wooden town, Louisiana was actually governed directly under the Captaincy General of Cuba in Havana. Spanish administrators stepped in, bringing over Cuban building codes, Caribbean master builders, and tropical design philosophy to reconstruct the city from the ashes.

Instead of traditional wood, builders used fire-resistant pastel stucco, wide arched doorways, and secret, shaded inner courtyards (patios) engineered to catch every cool breeze during suffocating summer months. Those iconic balconies that line Bourbon and Royal Streets were modeled directly after the grand mansions of Old Havana, replacing original French wooden galleries with Caribbean-style ironwork built for tropical living.

Look closely, and you can read the sequence. The oldest balconies in the Quarter are hand-forged wrought iron, worked by local smiths in the Spanish Caribbean manner—the same craft tradition at work in Havana. The famous lacy galleries came later, cast in American foundries in the 1850s: a New Orleans elaboration on an idea that arrived from Cuba. Walking down Calle Mercaderes in Havana and then strolling along Royal Street in New Orleans feels like discovering urban twins, sharing the exact same tropical design blueprint—from secret inner courtyards to grand street-facing balconies.

Isn't it fascinating to see how a craft tradition born across the Gulf still defines the skyline of New Orleans today?

On August 27, 2026, the Preservation Resource Center joined an unprecedented coalition of more than 600 Tribal Nations, ...
09/01/2026

On August 27, 2026, the Preservation Resource Center joined an unprecedented coalition of more than 600 Tribal Nations, preservation and conservation organizations, professional associations, businesses, museums, historical societies, and state and local organizations to deliver an open letter and brief to every member of Congress.

The message is clear: Congress should protect Section 106, strengthen it, and build on 60 years of success.

Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act gives communities a voice in federal decisions that may affect historic and cultural resources. It is an important tool for protecting the places and stories that matter to communities across the country.

Learn more about the coalition, why Section 106 matters, and read the full open letter and brief on our website at https://prcno.org/protect-and-strengthen-section-106/

📷 Courtesy of the Walker Evans Private Collection, Florence Griswold Museum.

What makes New Orleans irreplaceable?For George Long, the answer is a little bit of everything:"Its authenticity, its tr...
08/31/2026

What makes New Orleans irreplaceable?

For George Long, the answer is a little bit of everything:

"Its authenticity, its trees, the River, Lindy Boggs, walking with the Secret Society of St. Anne on Mardi Gras, Napoleon House, the Garden District, Angelo Brocato's chocolate ice, my costume closet, Bayou St. John, the 'tit Rəx parade, Frenchmen Street, and the good ol' days working at WWL in the Quarter with Garland, Angela, Jim, Hap, Nash, Eric, and a big bunch of other amazing people."

That's the thing about New Orleans. Ask what makes it irreplaceable, and the answer might be a place, a person, a tradition, a favorite treat—or a whole group of people who made a particular time in your life unforgettable.

What makes New Orleans irreplaceable to you?

Tell us about a place, tradition, building, neighborhood, person, or memory that makes New Orleans irreplaceable—and why it matters. Your response may help shape future stories, social media posts, public programs or preservation conversations connected to this campaign.

🔗 Share your story at https://prcno.org/get-involved/irreplaceable-new-orleans/
📸's by George Long

If you guessed 2 on this week’s PRC architecture quiz, you’re correct! 🎉This home features a turret, a small tower that ...
08/30/2026

If you guessed 2 on this week’s PRC architecture quiz, you’re correct! 🎉

This home features a turret, a small tower that projects from the main structure of a building. This one is polygonal in shape and topped with a steep, conical roof, adding plenty of character to the home’s exterior.

Turrets were a popular feature of Victorian-era architecture, particularly on Queen Anne-style homes, where asymmetry, elaborate details and dramatic rooflines were all part of the design.

Thanks for playing along! 🏡✨ Want more architecture quizzes? Drop a ❤️ the comments!

🏡 Test your New Orleans architecture knowledge with another PRC architecture quiz!This week, we're putting your eye for ...
08/29/2026

🏡 Test your New Orleans architecture knowledge with another PRC architecture quiz!

This week, we're putting your eye for architectural details to the test. 👀

Which one of these historic New Orleans homes has a turret?

Take your guess in the comments—we’ll reveal the answer tomorrow!

🏘️ How can Main Street revitalization strengthen Louisiana’s historic downtowns?In the June issue of Preservation in Pri...
08/27/2026

🏘️ How can Main Street revitalization strengthen Louisiana’s historic downtowns?

In the June issue of Preservation in Print, Amanda Lanata, Louisiana Main Street Assistant Director and CLG Coordinator, explores how new funding and technical assistance are helping communities revitalize historic downtowns and commercial districts across the state.

In fiscal year 2024–25, $450,000 in Technical Assistance grants supported 11 Louisiana communities, marking the first time in more than 10 years that Louisiana Main Street was able to offer this level of service.

In fiscal year 2025–26, projects are underway in 12 communities, with additional grants still to be awarded. Even more encouraging? For every $1 invested in the state’s Main Street program, $67 in new investment was generated in historic downtowns and commercial corridors.

From planning and preservation to economic development, Main Street programs are helping Louisiana communities invest in the places that make them unique.

👉 Read “Jumpstarting Main Street Revitalization” at https://prcno.org/jumpstarting-main-street-revitalization/

📸 Photo 1: A Resource Team from Main Street America completed strategic planning work in Winnfield in fall 2025. Courtesy of Winn Main Street.

📸 Photo 2: Ruston Main Street board members participated in a Work Planning Workshop to identify goals and priorities for the next three to five years. Courtesy of Louisiana Main Street.

📸 Photo 3: At a Community Visioning Town Hall, community members articulated and voted on their desired priorities for downtown’s future as part of Thibodaux’s Downtown Roadmap. Courtesy of Louisiana Main Street.

📸 Photo 4: A community visioning session held in Winnfield. Courtesy of Louisiana Main Street.

🏛️ What can you see on a guided architecture tour of New Orleans’ Warehouse District?Find out on September 26 with the P...
08/26/2026

🏛️ What can you see on a guided architecture tour of New Orleans’ Warehouse District?

Find out on September 26 with the Preservation Resource Center’s Guided Architecture Tour of the Warehouse District and American Sector.

This two-hour walking tour explores the history and architecture of the Warehouse District, Lafayette Square, and the American Sector, including one of Louisiana’s most impressive collections of 19th-century townhouses.

You’ll also visit Lafayette Square, New Orleans’ second-oldest public park, and learn how the American Sector developed following the Louisiana Purchase in 1803.

📅 September 26, 2026
⏰ 10 a.m.–12 p.m.
📍 Starts and ends at the Preservation Resource Center, 923 Tchoupitoulas St.
🔗 https://prcno.org/event/guided-architecture-tour-of-the-warehouse-district-and-american-sector-sept-26/

Come explore the historic architecture, neighborhoods, and stories that make this part of New Orleans so distinctive. 🚶‍♀️🏘️

08/25/2026

What makes a historic hotel feel like home?

For Cheryl Fitzgerald, it started with a simple frustration: her family couldn’t find a place to stay that reflected the New Orleans they knew — its architecture, art, music, food and hospitality.

They found a historic Lower Garden District property that needed repair and love. What they built became more than a hotel. Guests returned for engagements, babymoons, children, holiday traditions and new chapters of their lives.

“It’s an incredible honor to be part of somebody else’s story.”

This December, the Henry Howard Hotel will be reserved exclusively as the home base for PRC and Project Por Amor’s New Orleans Holiday Heritage Tour.

What New Orleans place has become part of your story?

Learn more: https://prcno.org/event/travel-with-the-prc-new-orleans-holiday-heritage-tour/

What does it mean to be a preservationist? For Nate Sheaffer, it means giving things a second life.As the founder of Big...
08/24/2026

What does it mean to be a preservationist? For Nate Sheaffer, it means giving things a second life.

As the founder of Big Sexy Neon, Nate has spent decades working with neon as an artist, sign maker, restorer and teacher. He’s also helping preserve a craft that he considers endangered.

In this I’m a Preservationist feature from Preservation in Print, Nate talks about the art and craftsmanship behind neon, why historic signs matter to the character of a place, and what we lose when they disappear.

From iconic signs to the hand-bending of neon glass, there’s a lot more to these glowing pieces of our city than meets the eye.

Read the full story on our website and meet Nate Sheaffer, a preservationist keeping the art of neon alive. Read “I’m a Preservationist: Nate Sheaffer”

https://prcno.org/im-a-preservationist-nate-sheaffer/

📸 Photo by Clint Durrett

Address

923 Tchoupitoulas Street
New Orleans, LA
70130

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+15045817032

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