Gallier House facts for kids
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Gallier House
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U.S. National Historic Landmark District
Contributing Property |
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Gallier House (with green gallery)
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 Location in East New Orleans
Location in Louisiana
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1132 Royal St., New Orleans, Louisiana |
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| Built | 1857 |
| Architect | James Gallier Jr. |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, Italianate |
| Part of | Vieux Carre Historic District (ID66000377) |
| NRHP reference No. | 74000932 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | February 15, 1974 |
| Designated NHL | May 30, 1974 |
| Designated NHLDCP | December 21, 1965 |
The Gallier House is a special old house in New Orleans, Louisiana. It is located on Royal Street in the famous French Quarter. This house is now a historic house museum, which means it has been carefully fixed up to look like it did long ago. Visitors can explore it and learn about life in the 1800s.
This beautiful house was once the home of a very important architect named James Gallier Jr.. An architect is someone who designs buildings. Construction of the house started in 1857. James Gallier Jr. and his family moved into their new home in 1860.
The Gallier House is filled with furniture and decorations from the 1850s. It even has a lovely courtyard garden and a special area where horses and carriages would enter. The house was very modern for its time, with many new inventions and design ideas. Because of its connection to James Gallier Jr., it was named a National Historic Landmark in 1974. This means it is a place of great historical importance.
Since 1996, a group called the Woman's Exchange has taken care of the Gallier House. They work hard to keep it looking just as it did when the Gallier family lived there. It is a wonderful example of how homes were designed and lived in during the 19th century in New Orleans.
House Design and Style
The Gallier House has a unique mix of building styles. It combines features from Italianate design with classic Greek Revival elements. Italianate style often includes decorative details and a stucco finish. Stucco is a type of plaster that covers the outside walls. It helped protect the soft bricks used in New Orleans from rain and wind.
The house was built on strong foundations made of brick. These foundations were wider underground to make the building very stable.
Special Features of the Gallier House
The front entrance of the house has a beautiful cast iron gate. Cast iron is a strong metal that can be molded into fancy shapes. Many cast iron pieces in the French Quarter were bought from catalogs. However, James Gallier Jr. designed this specific gate himself. This makes it very special and unique to the Gallier House.
More Historic Places to Explore
- Hermann-Grima House, another historic house museum in the French Quarter. It is also managed by the Woman's Exchange.
- List of National Historic Landmarks in Louisiana
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Orleans Parish, Louisiana
