Le Pavillon Hotel

Le Pavillon Hotel. A Historic Site. , This square of ground on which Le Pavillon Hotel now stands has had many historical associations over the years, which together form an interesting chapter in the romantic story of New Orleans. , In the early eighteen hundreds, this property was acquired by the Jesuit Fathers, from Jean Bienville, founder of New Orleans. The plantation which followed was used to cultivate sugar cane and indigo. The latter culture was soon abandoned due to its poisonous vapors, causing mortality among slaves. Years later as the land lay vacant and unclaimed it developed a reputation of being a forbidding and dangerous area, often camouflaging scenes of foul deeds and midnight murders among the cypress thickets. , After reclaiming this ground in 1837 the New Orleans Carrollton Railroad erected a train depot here which also served, in later years, as an amusement center for the residents and visitors to New Orleans. Later, in 1867 a magnificent four story theater was erected which would, in years to come, be known as Werlein Hall. Tragically, this impressive center for the performing arts was destroyed by fire in 1889. , In 1899 this plot of land was purchased by La Baronne Hotel Realty Company and construction soon began on what is now known as Le Pavillon Hotel. Her halls echo the days of romance and intrigue for both her guests and passers by. In the 1920’s a secret prohibition-era tunnel is supposed to have led to a safe place a block and a half away in the event the need arose for a hasty escape. , Only spirits could have foreseen two hundred years ago that this once uninviting locality would become a central portion of the great city of New Orleans.