Jackson Square is located in the heart of the French Quarter or Vieux Carre (Old Square) in New Orleans. St. Louis Cathedral (completed in 1794) is the imposing center of Jackson Square. The Jackson Square area was generally called the Place d’Armes by the French and Plaza de Armas by the Spanish. This was the area where the militia drilled and the citizens met. The Place d’Armes was the site of the Louisiana Purchase (1803) ceremony, and was subsequently renamed Jackson Square in the 1850’s in honor of Andrew Jackson, the hero of the Battle of New Orleans in the War of 1812 and later President of the United States. Today Jackson Square is a beautiful landscaped park at the center of which you will find a statue of Andrew Jackson. The park is landscaped in a sun pattern, with walkways set like the sun’s rays streaming out from the center. It is a visual feast along the walls of this park, and on any given day you will find people displaying their arts & crafts, young musicians, face painters, carriages for hire and any number of others who make a living from the parade of tourists in this area. It’s teaming with a variety of life and a great place to do some serious people watching and listening to music!