New Orleans is a beguiling combination of old and new. Named for the Duc d'Orléans, Regent of France, it was founded by Jean Baptiste Le Moyne, Sieur de Bienville. From 1763-1801, the territory of Louisiana was under Spanish rule. In 1801, Napoleon regained it for France, though no one in Louisiana knew of this until 1803, only 20 days before the Louisiana Purchase made it US territory. The first institution of higher learning in Louisiana, the College of Orleans, opened in New Orleans in 1811. The following year, the first steamboat went into service between New Orleans and Natchez. Louisiana was admitted to the Union on April 30, 1812, with New Orleans as the capital. The War of 1812 was over on January 8, 1815, when General Sir Edward Pakenham attacked New Orleans with a British force and was decisively defeated by General Andrew Jackson at Chalmette Plantation (now a National Historical Park). During the Civil War, New Orleans was captured by Union forces and held under tight military rule for the duration.

The population is extremely cosmopolitan, with its Creoles (descendants of the original French and Spanish colonists), Cajuns (descendants of the Acadians who were driven from Nova Scotia by the British in 1755), and other groups whose ancestors came from Italy, Africa, and the islands of the Caribbean.

Among tourists, New Orleans is famous for the old-world charm of its French Quarter. Visitors come from all over the country to dine in superb restaurants, listen to incomparable jazz, and browse in Royal Street's fine antique shops. In the world of trade, New Orleans is known as one of the busiest and most efficient international ports in the country. More than 100 steamship lines dock here. As many as 52 vessels can be berthed at one time.