America's Second Independence Day

If there is a way to tour a place by water, that's what we want to do. In New Orleans, the Mississippi river is at the heart of the city and it's history and the Creole Queen paddlewheel boat is a great way to see it. We liked the idea of the mid-morning cruise with a $5 Bloody Mary and unlimited refills. Hey we're on vacation! And, I just love the playful nature of New Orleans.

We especially liked the commentary on board, provided by Christyn Elliott, Creole Queen narrator. We love learning about history and Christyn put a delightful personal twist to it since she is a born and raised New Orleanian (sp?) 

• 1718: French rule. Louisiana, the entire Mississippi watershed, and some of Canada including Montreal was under French rule.
• 1762: Spanish rule. French were losing money, gave French Canada to Britain and Louisiana territory to Spain
• 1800: Napoleon forces Spain to give it all back, but no one knew so it was never official. Louisiana area remains under Spanish rule.
• 1803: French flag raised, taken down 20 days later
• Ownership passed by signing of documents a world away, no one really knew who owned Louisiana when the US bought it from France in 1803.
• The battle of New Orleans, on January 8, 1815, settled the issue and, according to our narrator - it should be called the country's second Independence Day. Without it we may be speaking French today.

Here is Christyn:

We thoroughly enjoyed that boat ride, and we learned a lot at the Chalmette Battlefield memorial.

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