Bywater Walking Tour: Food, Street Art, and Plessy v. Ferguson History in New Orleans
Difficulty
easy
Duration
4 hours
Fitness Level
Suitable for travelers in average physical condition who can walk 2–3 miles on city sidewalks and stand at stops.
Overview
Walk off the tourist grid through New Orleans’ Bywater—where bold street art, inventive Creole-Cajun plates and the Plessy v. Ferguson marker trace a neighborhood’s resurgence. This four-hour walking tour mixes food stops, local history and riverside views.
Bywater Walking Tour: Food, Street Art, and Plessy v. Ferguson History in New Orleans
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You step off the trolley of expectation and into Bywater’s slow-motion pulse: a neighborhood where paint peels in bright riffs, dogs patrol stoops like small sentries, and the Mississippi licks at the neighborhood’s ragged edge. The tour begins at the Plessy v. Ferguson marker—an unadorned stone that anchors a story that rewrote American civil rights law—and unspools through blocks of shotgun houses, converted warehouses, and pop-up kitchens that trade on bold Creole and Cajun riffs.
Adventure Photos
Adventure Tips
Comfortable, grippy footwear
Uneven sidewalks and occasional mud or puddles make sturdy shoes essential for four hours of walking.
End point differs from start
The tour ends several blocks from the meeting spot—plan a taxi or rideshare to return to your lodging.
Tell the guide about allergies
Hosts accommodate dietary restrictions if notified in advance; communicate any allergies before the tour.
Bring small bills for extras
Food and drinks are included, but you may want cash for souvenirs or extra snacks at independent vendors.
Local Insights
Wildlife
- Great blue heron
- Brown pelican
History
Bywater includes the site where Homer Plessy’s 1892 challenge to Louisiana’s segregation laws set the stage for the 1896 Supreme Court decision Plessy v. Ferguson, a pivotal moment in U.S. civil rights history.
Conservation
Rapid neighborhood change has pressured local artists and longtime residents; support independent businesses and public art stewardship programs to help keep cultural spaces accessible.
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Adventure Hotspots in New Orleans
Frequently Asked Questions
Recommended Gear
Comfortable walking shoes
Support and grip for uneven sidewalks and long stretches between stops.
Refillable water bottle
Keeps you hydrated during warm months and reduces plastic waste.
Sunscreen and brimmed hat
Protects from strong sun during midday riverfront stretches.
summer specific
Light rain jacket or poncho
An all-weather tour can include sudden showers—stay dry without losing mobility.
spring specific