Just outside of the French Quarter sits one of the most fascinating neighborhoods in the United States. Its history as colorful as the Mardi Gras Indians who parade its streets.

Tremé is an eight-block neighborhood (or “faubourg”) that has contributed to some of the most influential moments in African-American and United States history. Below are our Top 10 Reasons to explore this cultural gem.

10. Second Lines

On any given day, pass through Tremé and there is a strong likelihood you will witness one of the most spirited traditions found in New Orleans. They are celebratory parades that include brass bands, dancing in the streets, spinning parasols and revelers dressed in their best and brightest outfits. It can be compared to a moving block party and will undoubtably have you swaying to the music.

9. St. Augustine Church

Established in 1841, St. Aug’s is the oldest African-American Catholic Parish in the United States. Free people of color, whites and slaves worshiped freely here, something completely unprecedented at the time. It still operates more than 175 years later. If in town for Satchmo Fest (first weekend in August), be sure to attend its annual Jazz Mass, honoring Louis Armstrong.

8. Willie Mae’s and Dooky Chase

These are two of the no-doubt-about-it best restaurants in the city, each serving their own spin on traditional Creole cuisine. We promise you will have the best fried chicken of your life at Willie Mae’s Scotch House or head over to Dooky Chase and meet “The Queen of Creole Cuisine,” Miss Leah Chase, who just received the James Beard Lifetime Achievement Award.

7. Armstrong Park

Central to the Tremé neighborhood sits Armstrong Park. Named for Louis, we’re pretty sure you know the one we’re talking about, the park hosts festivals (Tremé Gumbo Festival, World Rhythms Festival, etc.) and concerts throughout the year. It is also home to the Mahalia Jackson Theater and Congo Square.

6. Mardi Gras Indians

One of the most unique sub-groups in New Orleans are the Mardi Gras Indians. They are a secret society of sorts, “tribes,” that dress in elaborate costumes, inspired by the Native American culture. They parade their elaborate dress during Mardi Gras season or before any special event. Each Indian designs and hand-crafts their costume, with beaded scenes, colors and feathers that have specific meaning to that individual and their tribe. Costumes can reach into the thousands of dollars to create and weigh hundreds of pounds.

5. Jazz Funerals

For New Orleanians, death is not to be feared, but that life is to be celebrated. This is never more evident than in Jazz Funerals. Mourners walk from the church to the cemetery, with a brass band playing somber tunes as it follows the casket. As the procession progresses, so too does the music. Songs become upbeat and full of energy -a celebration of the deceased’s life. There is dancing and singing, with onlookers oftentimes joining in on the march.

4. St. Louis Cemetery No.1

Did you know New Orleans sits 7-feet below sea level? This means our cemeteries are actually above-ground tombs. The most notable of these is St. Louis Cemetery No. 1. It first opened in the early 18th century and is the final resting place of many notable New Orleanians. These include: Voodoo priestess Marie Laveau, notorious slave owner Delphine LaLaurie and French politician Bernard de Marginy, founder of Mandeville, LA.

3. Congo Square

Located within Armstrong Park, Congo Square is one of the most influential areas for the African-American community in the city. During the early 1800s, before slavery was made illegal, slaves were often allowed Sundays for rest. On these days, they would congregate at Congo Square. Slaves from the Caribbean and Africa would play music, dance and trade with others, mixing together cultures, religions and ideas to form a distinct New Orleans way of life.

2. It’s the oldest black neighborhood in the U.S.

Tremé was established in the late 1700s. While Haitians and whites lived here as well, it was most notably a neighborhood where free people of color set their New Orleans roots. They worked, lived and worshipped in the area, having many freedoms (including higher education) unheard of in other parts of the country. Decades before the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, Tremé residents were questioning and organizing against the bias of the day. The most notable incident was what became basis for the Supreme Court case, Plessy v. Ferguson, creating the “separate but equal” doctrine.

1. It’s the “Birthplace of Jazz.”

It began with the blending of cultures and music within Congo Square. Next were the brass bands, playing throughout the neighborhood, followed by the bluesy take on ragtime in the early 1900s. What eventually became known as “jazz” can be best described as similar to the city itself -a melting pot of cultures, sounds and influences from the Caribbean to Spain to Africa. By visiting Tremé, you will be walking where Louis Armstrong, Jelly Roll Morton, Sidney Bechet, Duke Ellington and more honed their craft and continue to influence music to this day.

These are just 10 of the hundreds of reasons to visit one of the most culturally beautiful neighborhoods in all of New Orleans. One of the easiest ways to explore is by taking a Tremé Heritage Tour. What are you waiting for?

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