[Judy Patsch]

Today in History notes the signing of the Louisiana Purchase agreement on Dec. 20, 1803. What many people don't realize is that it wasn't done in D.C. but rather in New Orleans. The signing took place in the Cabildo, or Spanish Town Hall. This is the building immediately upriver (left) of St. Louis Cathedral in Jackson Square. It currently is one of the buildings of the Louisiana State Museum complex, along with its companion, the Presbytere or Residence, which is downriver (right) of the Cathedral. These three buildings are the most photographed in N.O. A wealthy Spaniard, Don Almonester, funded the construction of them (this cathedral being the third on that site and dedicated on Christmas Eve 1794). Later his daughter, the Baroness Almonester y Pontalba funded the two red brick apartment buildings flanking the square. If you walk through Jackson Square and observe the ironwork on those balconies, you'll notice she had her initials, AP, worked into the railings every 12 or 15 feet so that people would remember her largess. The Cabildo houses many different exhibits, including Napoleon's Death Mask and one of Doc Hawley's Captain's jackets. There is quite an extensive river/steamboat display in the Cabildo. Back in 1988, there was a fire, started by sparks from a workman's torch, and much damage occurred. Miraculously most of the artifacts including Napoleon's and Doc's were saved and are again on display. Photo 1 shows what I saw when I emerged from my driveway at the Beauregard Keyes House as I headed to work on the NATCHEZ at 4:30. I didn't know where the fire was, and from this angle, it looked like it was the Cathedral. Photo 2 shows the damage the next day, and Photo 3 shows all three buildings after the repairs were made to the Cabildo.