Central Business District in New Orleans in Orleans Parish, Louisiana — The American South (West South Central)

Starting Point of the First Traditional New Orleans Mardi Gras Parade

Photographed By Mike Stroud, April 1, 2012

1. Starting Point of the First Traditional New Orleans Mardi Gras Parade Marker

Inscription. From this corner on February 24, 1857, the Mistick Krewe of Comus began its first parade, heading up Julia Street toward St. Charles Avenue. With that parade, Mardi Gras was solidified as a New Orleans tradition that ultimately influenced Carnival celebrations throughout the continent. Comus would introduce the continuing custom of "krewes" staging annual parades and would influence the New Orleans style of Carnival, including floats,the word "krewe" and the playful element of mystery.

" At 9:00 o'clock, or thereabout, the glare of the torchlights shattered the darkness of Magazine and Julia Streets, bands burst into symphony, and the Mistick Krewe... revealed a company of demons, rich and realistic, moving in a procession that seemed to blaze from some secret chamber of the earth."
Perry Young, The Mistick Krewe: Chronicles of Comus and His Kin - 1931

Erected 2009 by Friends of the New Orleans Carnival.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Events. A significant historical month for this entry is February 1926.

Location. 29° 56.728′ N, 90° 4.158′ W. Marker is in New Orleans, Louisiana, in Orleans Parish. It is in the Central Business District. Marker is at the intersection of Julia Street and Magazine Street,

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on the right when traveling west on Julia Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: New Orleans LA 70130, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The 747 (within shouting distance of this marker); St. Patrick's Church (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); St. Patrick's (about 500 feet away); Julia Row (about 500 feet away); Saint Patrick's Church (about 500 feet away); 616 Girod Street (about 700 feet away); 8 in. Columbaid Cannon (approx. 0.2 miles away); Lambert-Gallier Inn of Court (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in New Orleans.

Also see . . .
1. Krewe, from Wikipedia. The word is thought to have been coined in the early 19th century by an organization calling themselves Ye Mistick Krewe of Comus, as an archaic affectation; with time it became the most common term for a New Orleans Carnival organization. (Submitted on April 29, 2012, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina.)

2. Mardi Gras. (Fat Tuesday in English) in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States, is a Carnival celebration well-known throughout the world. (Submitted on April 29, 2012, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina.)

3. Mistick Krewe of Comus, Storyvilledistrict. (Submitted on April 29, 2012, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina.)

Starting Point Marker along Julia Street image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mike Stroud, April 1, 2012

2. Starting Point Marker along Julia Street

Starting Point of the Parade looking up Julia Street image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mike Stroud, April 1, 2012

3. Starting Point of the Parade looking up Julia Street

Starting Point looking northward at Magazine Street from Julia Street image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mike Stroud, April 1, 2012

4. Starting Point looking northward at Magazine Street from Julia Street

New Orleans Mardi Gras Parade image. Click for full size.

The Times-Picayune

5. New Orleans Mardi Gras Parade

New Orleans Mardi Gras maskers, image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Old Postcard, circa 1915

6. New Orleans Mardi Gras maskers,

"Note women carry whips to fend off any unwanted attentions"

<i>Everybody is Here, Mardi Gras Day, New Orleans, La.</i> image. Click for full size.

Postcard by J. Scordill, circa 1910

7. Everybody is Here, Mardi Gras Day, New Orleans, La.

Mondo Kayo revelers parade on St. Charles Avenue in 2007 image. Click for full size.

Flickr user radiate2357, via Wikipedia Commons, February 20, 2007

8. Mondo Kayo revelers parade on St. Charles Avenue in 2007

Credits. This page was last revised on February 12, 2023. It was originally submitted on April 29, 2012, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 1,422 times since then and 95 times this year. It was the Marker of the Week February 24, 2019. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 30, 2012, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on April 29, 2012, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. 7. submitted on February 15, 2015. 8. submitted on February 23, 2019, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.