New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park

I have been to la Jean La Fitte National Park that is outside of New Orleans, where we took a very memorable swamp walk with Ranger Turnipseed many years ago, and I have walked by the branch that was in or near the open air market in the French quarter, but I had never been to the Jazz Historical Park. Shortly after the French founded New Orleans in 1718, engineers drew up a formal city plan for Nouvelle Orleans---the area that we now call the French Quarter. The city quickly expanded beyond those original boundaries to become an important American port. People arrived from all over the world, joining the early inhabitants of the area to create a distinct culture rich in food, music, and tradition.

This park is dedicated to the living part of the music and culture. When we were there it was in September and so they were celebrating Hispanic History Month, and so the daily musical and dance performances celebrated traditional music and jazz from Latin America. We saw a Haitian Jazz trio with an exceptional key boardist and a traditional dance and guitar performance from Mexico. All free, and the daily schedule is on the park's website as well as the what's going on in New Orleans calandar. Music and history on a budget!