March 5 at 9:30am — 11:00am
Join the Preservation Resource Center for a talk by New Orleans’ most distinguished urban geographer, Professor Richard Campanella, associate dean for research at Tulane School of Architecture and award-winning author of eleven books about the Crescent City, who will reveal the intricate story of how New Orleans was built.
Professor Campanella will lead the group through the intriguing geography that influences daily life here: why the French Quarter is on the highest ground, how the unique shotgun houses developed from Caribbean and West African origins, and what the numbered ward system shows about social and economic patterns that persist today.
This is more than architectural history—it’s the key to understanding why some neighborhoods flood while others do not, how racial and class dynamics are embedded in the city’s layout, and what preservation issues threaten its most vulnerable communities. Through Campanella’s expert perspective, you’ll interpret the visual language of New Orleans’ streets, understanding the stories that cornices, galleries, and building materials tell about waves of immigration, economic cycles, and the ongoing tension between development and preservation that shapes modern New Orleans.
9:00 a.m. – Doors open / Coffee service
9:45 a.m. – Greeting by PRC Staff
10:00 a.m. – Lecture begins
Registration required. Limited seating available for this special event.
