The 1850 House is one of the apartments in the lower Pontalba Building. Madame Micaëla Pontalba, aristocratic daughter of Don Andrés Almonaster y Roxas, built these long rows of red-brick apartments flanking the upper and lower portions of Jackson Sq. Today, volunteers from the Friends of the Cabildo give tours of the apartment (every 45 minutes or so, assuming docents are available), which includes the central court and servants’ quarters. There are period furnishings throughout. A self-guided tour is fine too.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Jackson Square

0.05 MILES

Whatever happens in the French Quarter usually begins here in Jackson Square, at Decatur and St Peter Streets. It's a gentle, carnivalesque scene,…

2. Presbytère

0.06 MILES

The lovely Presbytère building, designed in 1791 as a rectory for the St Louis Cathedral, serves as New Orleans’ Mardi Gras museum. You’ll find there’s…

3. St Louis Cathedral

0.08 MILES

One of the best examples of French architecture in the country, this triple-spired 18th-century cathedral is dedicated to Louis IX, the French king…

4. Moonwalk

0.09 MILES

Named for former mayor and politician Maurice 'Moon' Landrieu, this riverside promenade offers great Mississippi views.

5. Cabildo

0.1 MILES

The former seat of government in colonial Louisiana now serves as the gateway to exploring the history of the state in general, and New Orleans in…

7. Rodrigue Studio

0.11 MILES

The late Cajun artist George Rodrigue’s gallery is the place to see examples of his unbelievably popular ‘Blue Dog’ paintings. The iconic dog became his…

8. Gallery Burguieres

0.11 MILES

Ally Burguieres' artwork demonstrates plenty of technical skill, but there's also a lot of heart in her paintings and sketches, which focus on animals and…