The Presbytere

The Presbytère is an architecturally important building in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana. It stands facing Jackson Square, adjacent to the St. Louis Cathedral. Built in 1791 as a matching structure for the Cabildo, which flanks the cathedral on the other side, it is one of the nation's best examples of formal colonial Spanish architecture (with many neo-Renaissance elements).[3] It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1970, and is now a property of the Louisiana State Museum.

The Presbytere
The Presbytère, seen from Jackson Square
Location751 Chartres St.,
New Orleans, Louisiana
Coordinates29°57′28.91″N 90°3′49.57″W
Built1813
ArchitectGuilberto Guillemard
Architectural styleColonial
Part ofVieux Carre Historic District (ID66000377)
NRHP reference No.70000257
Significant dates
Added to NRHPApril 15, 1970[1]
Designated NHLApril 15, 1970[2]
Designated NHLDCPDecember 21, 1965

Description

The Presbytère is located on the northeast side of Jackson Square, between the cathedral and St. Ann Street. It is a two-story brick building, originally built with a flat roof that had a balustrade topped by urns. Its ground floor has a nine-bay open arcade of elliptical arches, with pilastered corners. The upper level also has arched openings, all articulated by pilasters, with multipane windows. The center three bays on both levels have engaged columns on either side, and are topped as a group by a gabled pediment. A dormered mansard roof was added in 1847, which is topped by a louvered cupola.[4]

History

The Presbytère was designed in 1791 by the French-born Gilberto Guillemard to match the Cabildo, or Town Hall, on the other side of St. Louis Cathedral. By 1798, only the first floor had been completed, and its second floor was not completed until 1813. Originally called the Casa Curial (‘Ecclesiastical House’), its name derives from the fact that it was built on the former site of the residence of the Capuchin monks and presbytery (rectory, presbytère in French).[4] While intended to house clergy, it was never used as a religious residence.[5] The building initially was used for commercial purposes until 1834, when it was used by the Louisiana Supreme Court.

In 1853, cathedral officials sold the Presbytère to the city, and in 1908 the city sold it to the state. In 1911 it became part of the Louisiana State Museum.[5] It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1970.[2][4]

View of Jackson Square. The Cathedral is the central building, with the Cabildo to the left and the Presbytere to the right.

In 2005, the cupola was replaced atop the Presbytère. The cupola had been missing since the New Orleans Hurricane of 1915.[5]

See also

References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. January 23, 2007.
  2. "The Presbytere". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Retrieved February 1, 2008.
  3. The French Quarter of New Orleans. Univ. Press of Mississippi. p. 53. ISBN 978-1-61703-497-8. in the Spanish Colonial style, with 'a full panoply of Renaissance architectural forms'
  4. Patricia Heintzelman (June 30, 1975). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: The Presbytere" (pdf). National Park Service. Cite journal requires |journal= (help) and Accompanying photo, exterior, from 1975 (239 KB)
  5. New Orleans Times-Picayune, Jun 24, 2005
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