Lower Pontalba Building
[Logo of the Orleans Parish Landmarks Commission]
Erected 1850 - 1851
by Micaela Almonster Baroness De Pontalba
working first with James Gallier, architect,
and then with Henry Howard, architect.
Samuel Stewart, builder.
Bequeathed by William Ratcliffe Irby to the Louisiana State Museum in 1927.
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This corner was the site of the French colonial Government House, residence of Gov. Etienne De Perier from 1727 until 1731 and of Gov. Jean Baptiste LeMoyne, Sieur de Bienville from 1731 until the house was abandoned in 1738.
On the remainder of the block, barracks buildings designed by Ignace Francois Broutin were begun in 1734, completed in 1738 and demolished by 1759.
This site was later acquired by Don Andres Almonester y Roxas, and various buildings occupied it until the present building was built by his daughter.
Marker is at the intersection of Chartres Street and St. Ann St., on the right when traveling west on Chartres Street.
Courtesy hmdb.org
