Some interesting history about New Orleans from a hobbyist's perspective:
In 1897, New Orleans legalized prostitution in the form of a red-light district called Storyville. Despite predictions that the district would become a haven for crime, Storyville actually prospered. The bordellos were tastefully decorated, and were often visited by celebrities and businessmen enjoying "the sporting life."
In 1917, the federal government had the district shut down and prostitution made illegal again, due to the construction of a nearby naval base. Most of the bordello buildings were then torn down throughout the 1940s. There are a handful of structures from Storyville still remaining; it remains to be seen if they've survived the hurricane.
Here's some links:
http://www.archaeology.org/0211/abstracts/storyville.html
http://www.tripsmarter.com/neworleans/archives/storyville.htm
In 1897, New Orleans legalized prostitution in the form of a red-light district called Storyville. Despite predictions that the district would become a haven for crime, Storyville actually prospered. The bordellos were tastefully decorated, and were often visited by celebrities and businessmen enjoying "the sporting life."
In 1917, the federal government had the district shut down and prostitution made illegal again, due to the construction of a nearby naval base. Most of the bordello buildings were then torn down throughout the 1940s. There are a handful of structures from Storyville still remaining; it remains to be seen if they've survived the hurricane.
Here's some links:
http://www.archaeology.org/0211/abstracts/storyville.html
http://www.tripsmarter.com/neworleans/archives/storyville.htm
