Benjamin Franklin Statue at Lafayette Square - New Orleans, LA
Posted by: NorStar
N 29° 56.888 W 090° 04.182
15R E 782829 N 3316650
This statue of Benjamin Franklin is in a small but well used park in the financial section of New Orleans.
Waymark Code: WM43HJ
Location: Louisiana, United States
Date Posted: 07/02/2008
Views: 77
Though Benjamin Franklin never spent time in New Orleans (that I know of), I'm sure he would have liked being there. In 1872, New Orleans erected this statue of him in Lafayette Square, created by Hiram Powers. At first it was in the center of the park, but in 1901 Franklin was moved to the east and a statue of Henry Clay was placed in the center, instead. Today, the park is often used as a gathering place. I was fortunate to pass through when one of the free concerts was happening.
The web site presented is from Planetware. It has nothing about Benjamin Franklin, himself, but it is one of the few web sites that mentions both Lafatette Square and the Benjamin Franklin statue. The sources below provide more in-depth information.
Sources:
(
visit link) - New Orleans City Archives at the New Orleans Public Library - a compilation of city ordinances.
(
visit link) - Picayune, Picayune's Guide to New Orleans, New Orleans, 1903.
(
visit link) - Wednesday at the Square - where you can check out the concert listings at the park.
(
visit link) - Walking Tour of the Business District, on the NPS site.