Woldenberg Riverfront Park and Canal Street Ferry Landing
Why is it significant?
Begin your exploration of New Orleans at the breezy southern threshold of Woldenberg Riverfront Park, where Canal Street meets the mighty Mississippi River.
Key Facts
| Place | Woldenberg Riverfront Park and Canal Street Ferry Landing |
|---|---|
| Address | 1 Canal St, New Orleans, LA 70130, United States |
| Geo Coordinates | 29.95150, -90.06350 |
| Part of Walk | French Quarter, Creole Townhouses and Mississippi Riverfront: The Heart of New Orleans |
| Generated | Generated |
Begin your exploration of New Orleans at the breezy southern threshold of Woldenberg Riverfront Park, where Canal Street meets the mighty Mississippi River. Developed in the late 1980s by transforming derelict wharves and decaying industrial rail sidings into a lush sixteen-acre civic greenway, this linear park opens the city's historic riverfront to walkers, dreamers, and musicians.
Look out across the swirling brown waters of the Mississippi River: here the river makes a grand ninety-degree sweeping bend that inspired the city's beloved historic moniker, the Crescent City. Established in 1718 by French colonial governor Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville, New Orleans was intentionally positioned at this strategic high ground because it controlled water access between the Gulf of Mexico and the vast agricultural interior of North America.
At the adjacent ferry terminal, the historic Canal Street Ferry has been transporting passengers and workers across the river to the historic maritime enclave of Algiers Point since 1827, making it one of the oldest continuously operated public ferry lines in the United States. Massive ocean-going freighters, oil tankers, and tugboats pushing long lines of cargo barges navigate the deep navigation channel, their deep diesel horns echoing across the riverbanks. As you stroll along the brick promenade lined with live oaks and sweet gum trees, street trumpeters and banjo players frequently play soulful blues and traditional jazz melodies, serenading travelers who sit on green benches to watch the river traffic.
Gazing down the long curve of the river as the sun glints off the water, you feel the monumental geographical power that birthed New Orleans. This swirling gateway linked Caribbean sugar plantations, European empires, and the American heartland into one of the most culturally distinctive metropolises on earth.
Walk northeast along the wooden riverfront boardwalk toward the Audubon Aquarium plaza.