School trips to New Orleans

Why visit New Orleans?

The birthplace of jazz

Jazz emerged in New Orleans in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Developed by the city’s African-American community, the genre was heavily influenced by blues and ragtime.

Jazz comes from the mixing of African rhythms and European harmonies, with slave folk songs and the music of West Africa combining with the traditions of European classical music, reflecting the history of the city itself.

Jazz was also influenced by other musical and cultural influences brought to New Orleans along the Mississippi River. These include blues and bluegrass from upriver, and African and Latin folk songs from the Caribbean islands.

Jazz is still a key feature in the culture of New Orleans. Your students will be able to learn more about the genre and its relationship with the city at the New Orleans Jazz Museum, housed in the Old U.S. Mint. An active performance venue, the museum’s exhibits include the instruments of some of the key figures in jazz.

Discover a rich culture

New Orleans has a rich culture that is unique within the USA. The city was founded in 1718 by French colonists and was later governed by the Spanish for a period. Louisiana only became a part of the United States when it was sold by Napoleon in 1803 in the Louisiana Purchase. The French and Spanish influences are still very evident in the city.

The mixing of those with French and Spanish roots, and later with those of West African heritage, led to Creole culture developing in the city. This is most evident in the incredible food and vibrant festivals, including Mardi Gras, for which New Orleans is famous.

Also evident in New Orleans is Cajun culture. The Cajuns were French-speaking Canadians exiled from the Acadia region. Although they settled mostly in rural areas of Louisiana, their distinct culture has heavily influenced that of the whole state and is particularly evident in the Cajun cuisine that is so famous.

Students will love the opportunity to explore the incredibly rich, diverse and unique culture that New Orleans offers.

Explore American history

Still a major port and commercial centre, New Orleans played an important role in the transatlantic slave trade and many African slaves were brought into the colony to provide labour for the many plantations.

The end of the Civil War brought in the abolition of slavery across the USA, but racial segregation continued, and New Orleans became an important centre for the civil rights movement.