Walk down Burgundy street in Bywater and, seemingly out of nowhere, an Arc de Triomphestyle monument stands next to a high school football field. Oddly imposing and showing signs of neglect, this is the Ninth Ward Victory Arch, dedicated to the local veterans of WWI. The names on the monument are segregated by race.

Because of this segregation, Take 'Em Down, the group that led a campaign against the city's Confederate memorials, listed this monument as offensive in 2017. Others argue that an explanatory plaque or signage would allow the monument to still honor the soldiers it lists while providing historical context to the public.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Markey Park

0.31 MILES

This small green space has a playground. It's a popular spot for Bywater families, and a good place to let younger kids run off some energy, especially…

2. Crescent Park

0.34 MILES

This waterfront park is our favorite spot in the city for taking in the Mississippi. Enter over the enormous arch at Piety and Chartres Sts, or at the…

3. St Vincent de Paul Cemetery

0.46 MILES

As New Orleans cemeteries go, this one feels completely off the tourist radar. And yet, it's as atmospheric and gloomy as any other 'city of the dead.' Be…

4. Clouet Gardens

0.49 MILES

This formerly empty lot has been transformed by its Bywater neighbors into a neat little park filled with murals and generally appealing weirdness…

5. Press Street Gardens

0.65 MILES

The New Orleans Center for Creative Arts runs this plot of land as part of its culinary education program. You'll find wandering chickens, placid goats…

6. Plessy v Ferguson Plaque

0.66 MILES

This plaque marks the site where Homer Plessy, in a carefully orchestrated act of civil disobedience, tried to board a whites-only train car. That action…

7. Algiers Folk Art Zone

0.72 MILES

Self taught artist Charles Gillam is a regular at Jazz Fest, where he exhibits woodcarvings and mixed media work that is fairly bursting with New Orleans…

8. Ellis Marsalis Center for Music

0.77 MILES

The Ellis Marsalis Center for Music serves as a cultural events and seminar space for the surrounding neighborhood; a visit can give you some insight into…