Beauregard-Keyes House and Garden, New Orleans

The Beauregard-Keyes House is significant and worth a tour for its Greek Revival architecture, lovely quaint garden, and for once having been the residence of Confederate General Pierre Gustave Toutant Beauregard, a prominent New Orleans native who ordered the first shots of the Civil War and remained a hero in the South long after the war's conclusion. The property had been used by Ursuline nuns from the early 1700s until the 1820s when the new house was designed, blending elements of a Creole cottage with Greek Revival characteristics, including a Palladian facade, curved twin staircases, a Tuscan portico, and a spacious dining room.

In 1945, author Frances Parkinson Keyes was searching for a place to write and reside in New Orleans when she stumbled upon this property. Over the next 25 years, she meticulously restored the historic gem to its Victorian origins and authored novels, one of which was set in the house and featured General Beauregard as a character. Another novel she wrote was based on Paul Morphy, the grandson of the original owner and one of the greatest modern chess masters. Keyes was already an avid collector, and the house showcases her extensive collection of veilleuses (teapots with cups and nightlights), the second-largest of its kind in the world. Visitors can also admire antique dolls, French sofas, rare porcelain teapots, and a wide array of fans and folk costumes on display.

Tip:
The tour concludes in a small but well-stocked gift shop (where admission fees are paid at the end). Even if you don't have time for a tour, take a moment to peer through the gates at the corner of Chartres and Ursulines streets to catch a glimpse of the beautiful walled garden, which blooms year-round and follows the same sun pattern as Jackson Square.

Guided Tours (~45min):
Monday through Saturday: 10 am to 3 pm (on the hour)