NOLA History: Gallier Hall-the "official" focal point of Carnival
NOLA History: Gallier Hall-the "official" focal point of Carnival
Carnival is not an "official" holiday like Presidents Day or Veterans Day. At least not to the rest of the world. The School of Design's motto, Pro Bono Publico, "for the good of the people," says it all. Still, there is an "official" side to Carnival, and that side is most visible on St. Charles Avenue, at Gallier Hall.
Gallier Hall on a sunny New Orleans day. (Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons)
No doubt the Grand Duke Alexi Romanov reviewed the first Rex parade in 1872 from the then nineteen-year old City Hall building designed by James Gallier, Sr. Construction began on the new city hall in 1845, and in 1853, the city's government took over the building. One of three buildings designed by Gallier that are National Historic Landmarks, this Neoclassical structure has two rows of Ionic columns supporting the front of its three stories. The mayor's office and the city council chambers were located on the main floor, up the front steps.
Rex parade approaching City Hall, 1929 (Photo Credit: Mendes photo, HNOC)
Its location on St. Charles Avenue all but guaranteed that the modern era of Carnival parades (starting with Comus in 1857) would pass in front. By the turn of the 19th-20th centuries, city hall was the public focal point of Mardi Gras. The "private" focal point was the Pickwick Club on the corner of Canal and St. Charles. Until the 1990s, the club erected reviewing stands there, to be used by their krewe, Comus, as well as the courts of other "old line" krewes, including Rex, Momus, and Proteus.
Lucille Newlin and Martin Behrman, City Hall, 1917. (Photo Credit: Mendes photo, HNOC)
A Carnival tradition is for the mayor to give Rex the keys to the city. In 1927, Mayor Martin Behrman (left, wearing top hat) delegated this duty to eight-year old Lucille Newlin. Rex isn't the only Carnival monarch accorded this honor. Every parade that passes Gallier Hall is greeted by a representative of the City. If it's not the mayor himself, one of the members of the City Council stands in for him. City Council members greeting parades was much more common when the various krewes had a more direct connection to a particular neighborhood.
President Taft enjoys a Carnival parade with Mayor Behrman at City Hall, 1909. (Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons)
Gallier Hall hosted US Presidents as well as royalty for Carnival. Here's William Howard Taft , accompanied by Mayor Behrman. In addition to Mardi Gras appearances, Gallier Hall has been the site for speeches by dignitaries at other times of the year. In 1917, Guglielmo Marconi, the inventor of wireless telegraphy, visited New Orleans, and addressed a gathering of Italian-Americans from the front of city hall. The building's location directly across from Lafayette Square made it a good venue for such outdoor events, since those in attendance could gather in the park. At Carnival time, the city erects bleachers that run the length of the block of St. Charles Avenue in front of Lafayette Square. Tickets to those reviewing areas are available to the public so everyone can enjoy the parades.
Jefferson Davis vigil, City Hall, 10-December-1889. (Photo Credit: NOPL photo)
In addition to city hall's prominent position during Carnival, the building is still used to this day for more solemn occasions. When Jefferson Davis, former president of the Confederate States of America, died in New Orleans in 1889, his remains lie in state at city hall. The above photo is one of nine in the New Orleans Public Library's collection from the funeral. The honor guard attending the body maintained an all-night vigil the evening before the internment. The Prussian-helmeted guards are from a Confederate soldiers' association.
Funeral procession of Jefferson Davis about to embark for the cemetery, 11-December-1889. (Photo Credit: NOPL photo)
Davis was interred in the Army of Northern Virginia tumulus at Metairie Cemetery after an elaborate funeral procession from city hall to the cemetery. His remains were removed from the tumulus in 1893 and re-interred in his permanent resting place in Hollywood Cemetery, Richmond, VA.
Since Davis' funeral, a number of other important New Orleanians have received similar honors, most recently, jazz musician Danny Barker (1994), local music legend Ernie K-Doe (2001) and New Orleans Fire Department Superintendent Warren McDaniels (2008).
Gallier Hall from across the street in Lafayette Square. (Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons)
With the opening of the new "civic center" complex on Loyola Avenue and Poydras Street in 1954, city government left St. Charles Avenue. "City Hall" became "Gallier Hall," named after its designer. An Irishman who came to New Orleans in the 1830s, Gallier designed not only his namesake building, but the Pontalba Apartments, which flank Jackson Square in the French Quarter. Gallier and his second wife died in a shipwreck of a steamer traveling from New York to New Orleans in 1866.
His son, James Jr., designed and erected a cenotaph in their memory in St. Louis Cemetery Number Three. The younger Gallier was a distinguished architect in his own right, having designed Christ Church Cathedral (Episcopal) on Canal Street (torn down in 1893 to make way for the Maison Blanche department store), and his own home on Royal Street in the French Quarter, now a museum known as "Gallier House."
Gallier Hall is where mayors of New Orleans are inaugurated every four years. When not being used for a formal city function, large city council chamber as well as other rooms can be rented for private parties and wedding receptions, so New Orleanians can live their history while they celebrate. We wouldn't have it any other way.
What are your favorite Gallier Hall memories? Leave us a comment to let us know.
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