Our Hotel
History of the quarter house resort
The Quarter House Resort is part of the rich, multi-cultural heritage of the City of New Orleans. Designed by New Orleans’ most renowned architect, James Gallier, in 1831, the Quarter House was originally built before the Civil War, and most of the structures were built prior to 1840.
Occupying a half-city block in the French Quarter, the property on which the Quarter House now sits is part of a prized group of land parcels whose ownership and development can be traced to the 1700's.
From the earliest-recorded documents available on the history of the Quarter House, it is clear that its ownership reflected the amazing cultural diversity of New Orleans. Until 1828, in fact, fully 33% of the property was owned by free people of color – people whose lives were intimately intertwined with those of the majority population, and whose social and professional affiliations helped shape New Orleans from those days to modern times.
A brief overview of the lives of the principal free people of color involved in the early development of the quarter House properties reveals New Orleans on a city of inclusion, in stark contrast to much of America at that time. According to New Orleans historian, William Reeves, “The free people of color who owned the property on Square 33 (which included the Quarter House lots) were part of a large network of families, both black and white — all connected through interlocking relationships that crossed racial boundaries.”
Today the Quarter House continues to reflect New Orleans’ unique cultural and racial diversity in both the make-up of its staff and in the ownership of the timeshares. We are proud of our heritage and our place in New Orleans as an institution that welcomes people from all walks of life.
