Gallier Hall
Encyclopedia
Gallier Hall is a historic building on St. Charles Avenue
in New Orleans, Louisiana
. It is the former New Orleans city hall, and continues in civic use.
Gallier Hall is located on St. Charles Avenue
at Lafeyette Square in the Central Business District
. The building was originally designed to be the city hall of New Orleans by the noted architect, James Gallier, Sr.
. Construction began in 1845, and the building was dedicated on 10 May 1853. Gallier Hall is a three-story marble structure fronted by two rows of fluted Ionic columns
in the Neoclassical style
. It is one of the most important structures built during the ante-bellum period of the city.
After its dedication in 1853, Gallier Hall remained the city hall for just over a century. Many important events during the Civil War
, Reconstruction, and the era of Louisiana governor Huey Long
took place at Gallier Hall.
After the City Hall was moved to the modern complex at Duncan Plaza in the 1950s, old Gallier Hall nonetheless continued its traditional place of honor during Mardi Gras
. Viewing galleries in front of the hall are reserved for Mardi Gras royalty
, and parades on the St. Charles route pause in front of them. Marching bands typically perform shows here during the parades. On Mardi Gras Day the mayor of New Orleans toasts the kings of the Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Club
and Rex Parade
here.
Gallier Hall is currently a convention center
, reception hall, and home of The Ty Tracy Theatre, named for the late Artistic Director who ran the New Orleans Recreational Department Theatre. Today, The Ty Tracy Theatre is home to Julie Condy's Crescent City Lights Youth Theatre.
It also serves special civic functions, including inaugurations of mayors, and particularly distinguished New Orleanians are sometimes laid in state here after their deaths as a sign of deep citywide respect.
St. Charles Avenue
St. Charles Avenue is a thoroughfare in New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.A. and the home of the St. Charles Streetcar Line. It is also famous for the hundreds of mansions that adorn the tree-lined boulevard for much of the Uptown section of the route. The southern live oak trees, particularly found in...
in New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
. It is the former New Orleans city hall, and continues in civic use.
Gallier Hall is located on St. Charles Avenue
St. Charles Avenue
St. Charles Avenue is a thoroughfare in New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.A. and the home of the St. Charles Streetcar Line. It is also famous for the hundreds of mansions that adorn the tree-lined boulevard for much of the Uptown section of the route. The southern live oak trees, particularly found in...
at Lafeyette Square in the Central Business District
New Orleans Central Business District
The Central Business District is a neighborhood of the city of New Orleans. A subdistrict of the French Quarter/CBD Area, its boundaries as defined by the City Planning Commission are: Iberville, Decatur and Canal Streets to the north, the Mississippi River to the east, the New Orleans Morial...
. The building was originally designed to be the city hall of New Orleans by the noted architect, James Gallier, Sr.
James Gallier
James Gallier was a prominent New Orleans architect.He was born James Gallagher in Ravensdale, County Louth, Ireland in 1798. He worked in England during his early career, designing the Godmanchester Chinese Bridge which crosses a mill stream of the River Great Ouse in 1827, and then working on the...
. Construction began in 1845, and the building was dedicated on 10 May 1853. Gallier Hall is a three-story marble structure fronted by two rows of fluted Ionic columns
Ionic order
The Ionic order forms one of the three orders or organizational systems of classical architecture, the other two canonic orders being the Doric and the Corinthian...
in the Neoclassical style
Neoclassical architecture
Neoclassical architecture was an architectural style produced by the neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century, manifested both in its details as a reaction against the Rococo style of naturalistic ornament, and in its architectural formulas as an outgrowth of some classicizing...
. It is one of the most important structures built during the ante-bellum period of the city.
After its dedication in 1853, Gallier Hall remained the city hall for just over a century. Many important events during the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, Reconstruction, and the era of Louisiana governor Huey Long
Huey Long
Huey Pierce Long, Jr. , nicknamed The Kingfish, served as the 40th Governor of Louisiana from 1928–1932 and as a U.S. Senator from 1932 to 1935. A Democrat, he was noted for his radical populist policies. Though a backer of Franklin D...
took place at Gallier Hall.
After the City Hall was moved to the modern complex at Duncan Plaza in the 1950s, old Gallier Hall nonetheless continued its traditional place of honor during Mardi Gras
New Orleans Mardi Gras
Mardi Gras in New Orleans, Louisiana, is a Carnival celebration well-known throughout the world.The New Orleans Carnival season, with roots in preparing for the start of the Christian season of Lent, starts after Twelfth Night, on Epiphany . It is a season of parades, balls , and king cake parties...
. Viewing galleries in front of the hall are reserved for Mardi Gras royalty
Krewe
A krewe is an organization that puts on a parade and or a ball for the Carnival season. The term is best known for its association with New Orleans Mardi Gras, but is also used in other Carnival celebrations around the Gulf of Mexico, such as the Gasparilla Pirate Festival in Tampa, Florida, and...
, and parades on the St. Charles route pause in front of them. Marching bands typically perform shows here during the parades. On Mardi Gras Day the mayor of New Orleans toasts the kings of the Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Club
Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Club
The Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Club is a Carnival Krewe in New Orleans, Louisiana which puts on the Zulu parade each Mardi Gras Day. Zulu is New Orleans' largest predominantly African American carnival organization known for its blackfaced krewe members wearing grass skirts and its unique throw...
and Rex Parade
Rex parade
Rex is a New Orleans Carnival Krewe which stages one of the city's most celebrated parades on Mardi Gras Day. Rex is Latin for "King", and Rex reigns as "The King of Carnival"....
here.
Gallier Hall is currently a convention center
Convention center
A convention center is a large building that is designed to hold a convention, where individuals and groups gather to promote and share common interests. Convention centers typically offer sufficient floor area to accommodate several thousand attendees...
, reception hall, and home of The Ty Tracy Theatre, named for the late Artistic Director who ran the New Orleans Recreational Department Theatre. Today, The Ty Tracy Theatre is home to Julie Condy's Crescent City Lights Youth Theatre.
It also serves special civic functions, including inaugurations of mayors, and particularly distinguished New Orleanians are sometimes laid in state here after their deaths as a sign of deep citywide respect.