Madame John's Legacy facts for kids
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Madame John's Legacy
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 Location in East New Orleans
Location in Louisiana
Location in the United States
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| Location | 632 Dumaine St., New Orleans, Louisiana |
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| Built | 1788 |
| Architectural style | Colonial |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000256 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | April 15, 1970 |
| Designated NHL | April 15, 1970 |
Madame John's Legacy is a very old and special house in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana. It's now a historic house museum where you can learn about its past. This house was finished in 1788. It is one of the oldest buildings in the French Quarter. It was built in the old French colonial style. This style was common in New Orleans back then. In 1970, it was named a National Historic Landmark. This means it's a very important building because of its design. The Louisiana State Museum owns the house. They offer tours so people can visit and explore it.
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Exploring Madame John's Legacy
Madame John's Legacy is located near Jackson Square. You can find it on Dumaine Street. The house got its name from a story. It was in a book called "Tite Poulette" by George Washington Cable. The story was about a building that used to be on this same spot.
What the House Looks Like
The house is a French colonial raised cottage. This means it has two main levels. The bottom level is a tall basement made of brick. The top level is made of wood. The outside of the house is covered with wooden boards.
Behind the main house, there is an open yard. In the back of the property, there are other brick buildings. These buildings were likely built around the 1820s. They included a kitchen and a garconnière, which was a small house for young men. The basement of the house looks shorter now than it did long ago. This is because the street level has risen over many years.
The House's Long History
Records show that the house was finished in 1788. But some studies suggest it might include parts of an even older house. That first house was built around 1730. It belonged to François Marin and later his wife, Elisabeth Réal. She was a businesswoman in New Orleans.
There was a big fire in New Orleans in 1788. The owner, Manuel de Lanzos, told the builder to reuse bricks and metal from his damaged house. This means some parts of the old house might have survived the fire. Whether it was fully rebuilt or repaired, the house survived another fire in 1794.
Over the years, the house changed a lot. In the late 1800s, it was even turned into apartments. In 1947, the house was given to the Louisiana State Museum. It opened as a museum. But in 1965, it closed because of damage from a hurricane. In the early 1970s, the house was carefully restored. Workers tried to make it look like it did in the late 1700s. After the restoration, it reopened for visitors.
Madame John's Legacy in Movies
This historic house has even been in movies! You can briefly see it in the 1994 movie Interview with the Vampire. In one scene, caskets are being carried out of the house. The movie 12 Years a Slave also filmed some parts at the house.
More to Explore
- List of National Historic Landmarks in Louisiana
- List of the oldest buildings in Louisiana
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Orleans Parish, Louisiana
