New Orleans & Katrina: Built on Water, Tested By Storm

1 Review 5.00 out of 5 stars Based on 1 traveler reviews collected by Cool Havana and TripAdvisor | Recommended by 100% of reviewers | New Orleans, USA
Don't miss out!
On average, this is booked 64 (43) days in advance.

2 hours (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English
Instant confirmation

Overview

New Orleans was built by water, and its survival has always depended on how people learned to live with it.
On this two-hour walking tour, follow the Mississippi River through the story of a city shaped by flooding, commerce, slavery, immigration, engineering, music, and extraordinary cultural exchange.
Discover why New Orleans was founded here, how the river created both opportunity and danger, and how levees, drainage canals, and pumps transformed the landscape.
Follow that story through the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 to Hurricane Katrina, when failures in the flood-protection system devastated much of the city and exposed long-standing social and environmental vulnerabilities.
Finally, explore what changed after Katrina and how coastal restoration, stronger storm protection, and a new approach to living with water are shaping the future of New Orleans.

What's Included

  • Follow up information if desired
  • Licensed tour guide
  • Environmentalist guide
  • Gratuities
  • Food or Beverages
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Meeting Location

Meeting point

768 Decatur Street
New Orleans, LA 70116, USA

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Detailed check-in instructions, including the exact address, are provided with your booking confirmation.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

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Our secure website provides real-time availability, instant confirmation, and free, no-hassle cancellations up to 24 hours before your tour begins.
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Mississippi River Heritage Park

New Orleans and the Mississippi River are extricably linked. Tourism, trade and commerce are all powered by the river, lakes and the gulf that surrounds it. But the very thing that powers the city’s economy also makes it vulnerable to catastrophic floods. We will discuss this in detail
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15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Latrobe Park

This park was named after Benjamin Latrobe who built New Orleans' first water system
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15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Woldenberg Riverfront Park

This area used to be flood walls, warehouses, and industrial that ran along the Mississippi River. The area was transformed into a public park complete with lush greenery, bricked walkways, and public art, and it opened to the public before the 1984 World’s Fair, which the city hosted that year. The park was named for philanthropist Malcolm Woldenberg, who contributed to the park’s creation.
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15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Jackson Square

Jackson Square, or the Place d’Armes, as it was originally known, began to take its shape in August 1721, when French engineers laid out a plan for the new colonial capital of La Louisiane. We will discuss the histroy as we view this gorgeous square.
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15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

French Market

In 1791, this French Market originated as a Native American trading post along the Mississippi River. From there it continued to evolve into a cultural and commercial hub for New Orleans, as French and Spanish colonists opened the market up to ships and traders from all over the world. Over the next three centuries, immigrants from Europe, Africa and the Caribbean began to open their own venues at this French Quarter market, offering everything from Italian butcheries to African coffee and Choctaw spices.
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15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

French Quarter

This was the original city. When the French created a permanent colony here they initiated a century’s-long effort to pin the Mississippi within its banks by building man made levees on top of the natural ones. But the Mississippi river was not easily tamed. Even Mark Twain said “The Mississippi River will always have its own way; no engineering skill can persuade it to do otherwise. And he was right. No matter what man did to try to control the river, floods plagued each generation of New Orleanians.
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45 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

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Additional Info

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • Not recommended for anyone with mobility issues
  • Tours run rain or shine

Frequently Asked Questions (7)

Q: What is the cancellation policy for the New Orleans & Katrina: Built on Water, Tested By Storm?

A: You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund. For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (CDT).This tour requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund. Read more Apr 2025

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.

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Activity code: C-400627P6

Traveler Photos

Reviews

5.00
1 reviews

Average 5.00 out of 5 stars based on 1 traveler reviews collected by Cool Havana and partner sites such as Cool Destinations and TripAdvisor

5 stars
1
4 stars
0
3 stars
0
2 stars
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1 star
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Don't miss out!
On average, this is booked 64 (43) days in advance.

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What's Included

Activity name

  • Follow up information if desired
  • Licensed tour guide
  • Environmentalist guide
  • Gratuities
  • Food or Beverages

Additional Info

Activity name

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Not recommended for travelers with mobility issues
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • Not recommended for anyone with mobility issues
  • Tours run rain or shine
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers

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