Central Fire Station, 300 Block Decatur Street, 1928-1932.

Historypin recently helped to Street View hundreds of photos belonging to the Historic New Orleans Collection, a museum, research center, and publisher located in the heart of the French Quarter. Founded in 1966 by L. Kemper and Leila Williams, THNOC has grown to include collections of photography, film, jazz, literature, decorative arts, Mardi Gras memorabilia, and oral history narratives. The Collection’s Historypin images are drawn from the Charles L. Franck Studio Collection, comprising 16,000 photographs and negatives that chronicle the growth of Louisiana and New Orleans during the 20th century. From the classic iron-railing buildings of the French Quarter to the hustle and bustle of Canal Street, THNOC chronicles city-life for over half-a-century.

Here are some favorites that I found while Street Viewing:

Up Carondelet Street from the 100 Block, 1921-1925.

Up Canal Street from the 1000 Block, 1932-1936.

Mar – Jean Apartments, 1002 Esplanade Avenue, 1941.

French Market-Morning Coffee Call House, 1948-1952.

Having never been to New Orleans, going through this Collection extensively has made me feel like an honorary local. If you too want a tour of both old and present-day New Orleans, check out the rest of this fabulous Collection on the Historic New Orleans Collection Channel.  You can also check out their collection on their own Historic New Orleans iPhone app which we built for them.