National Historic Landmark

Girod, Nicholas, House

New Orleans, Orleans County, Louisiana
Listed
April 14, 1970
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
70000254

About this property

The Napoleon House (French: Maison Napoléon; Spanish: Casa de Napoleón), also known as the Mayor Girod House or Nicolas Girod House, is a historic building at 500 Chartres Street in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. Built in 1794 and enlarged in 1814, its name derives from the local legend that it was intended as a residence for Napoleon Bonaparte after his exile. A plan to bring Napoleon to Louisiana was halted by news of his death in 1821. The building was also the home of Nicholas Girod (d. 1840), mayor of New Orleans. One of the city's finer private residences in the early 19th century, the building housed a local grocery at the start of the 20th century and since 1914 has operated as a restaurant called Napoleon House. The upper floors of the building have been converted to apartments, where some of the original interior decorative elements may still be seen. It was declared to be a National Historic Landmark in 1970, as one of the city's finest examples of French-influenced architecture. It is a three-story brick stuccoed building, with a dormered hip roof and cupola. Shallow ironwork balconies with austere styling adorn the second floor. The Napoleon House restaurant has an old-time New Orleans atmosphere and serves such traditional dishes as red beans and rice, gumbo, and jambalaya; it has been particularly known among locals for its muffaletta sandwiches. The bar is known for serving its "Pimm's Cup" cocktail. Classical music is played on the sound system.

Location

500 Chartres St.
New Orleans, Orleans County, Louisiana
29.95598, -90.06505

Categories

ARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Nearby Historic Sites

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0.1 mi
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Cabildo, The
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Jackson Square
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Nearby Battles

Battle of Liberty Place Sep 14 1874
1874Frontier
0.4 mi
New Orleans Massacre
1866Indian Wars
0.5 mi
Battle of New Orleans — Farragut's passage
1862Civil War
0.5 mi
Battle of New Orleans — Main Assault Jan 8 1815
1815Early Republic
0.5 mi

Questions about this property

When was Girod, Nicholas, House listed on the National Register?

Girod, Nicholas, House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on April 14, 1970.

What type of historic resource is Girod, Nicholas, House?

Girod, Nicholas, House is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

Is Girod, Nicholas, House a National Historic Landmark?

Yes. Girod, Nicholas, House has been designated a National Historic Landmark (NHL), the highest level of federal recognition for historic properties in the United States.

What is the period of significance for Girod, Nicholas, House?

The period of significance for Girod, Nicholas, House is recorded as the industrial era.

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