The Badly Behaved Women Who Made New Orleans Tour

New Orleans’ story of vice begins in an unexpected place: the Ursuline convent, where this tour examines how church and royal power shaped the lives of women sent to the colony. From there, you’ll follow the city’s less respectable history toward Storyville and Louis Armstrong Park.

I like the tour’s focus on women whose stories are often pushed to the margins, and I like that guides Josh and Tracy add architectural details and wider city history along the way. The pace is described as unhurried, which suits a walk built around stories rather than a checklist of landmarks.

One thing to keep in mind: the route is a walking tour, and some advertised stops or breaks may vary. Drinks at suggested cocktail stops are not included, and the tour does not promise entry to every place it discusses.

• The Ursuline convent sets the tone: Hear a troubling account of the women sent to the colony and the punishment used to control them.
• Marie Laveau gets a fresh angle: The focus is on her birthplace and the source of much of her income, not a stop at the souvenir shop.
• Storyville comes into view from Louis Armstrong Park: Photos and stories help picture the district that once occupied the area around Basin Street.
• The group is capped at 15: That is a useful size for a walking tour where questions and conversation matter.
• The $35 price covers two hours of guided history: Cocktails are extra, but the tour links several themes and landmarks in one route.

The Ursuline Convent, where the story turns

Meet at Chartres Street and Ursulines Avenue at 2:00 p.m. The tour begins near the Ursuline convent, whose construction began in 1727. It is identified as the oldest building in the French Quarter, and its age gives the opening story an immediate sense of place.

The guide discusses the so-called correction girls, women sent to the colony, and the role the church and King Louis XV allegedly played in bringing them there and controlling them. The account includes nude public lashings. It is a grim start, but it points toward the tour’s central question: who was judged as immoral, and who held the power to enforce that judgment?

That subject makes this more than a tour of old buildings and colorful characters. You’ll hear how women’s lives were shaped by institutions, money, and public reputation. The tour’s title is playful, but the history it takes up is often harsh.

Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop and a possible cool-down

Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar is a frequent stop, though the route may not pause there every time. The building is described as the oldest in North America to house a bar, and the guide connects it to a past as a smuggling front.

The stop is also a chance to take a break from the heat. A pause here may be welcome on a warm afternoon, though any drink is your own expense. The tour includes suggestions for historic cocktails, not alcoholic beverages.

If you are looking for a bar crawl, this is not one. The bar’s role is to add a setting and a brief breather to the history walk. You can enjoy the context without ordering a drink.

Marie Laveau beyond the shopfront

The tour does not visit the Marie Laveau House of Voodoo shop. Instead, it goes to the real birthplace of Marie Laveau and takes up an unexpected question: how did a famed Voodoo leader fit into the history of New Orleans’ sex trade?

The guide discusses where Laveau made much of her money, challenging the familiar image of her as only a spiritual figure. That shift in perspective is one of the tour’s more distinctive features. It connects a well-known name to the wider economic and social history of women in the city.

The stop is brief, about seven minutes. Treat it as one piece of a larger story rather than a long visit to a single site. The value lies in the guide’s explanation and the connections made between the people and places on the route.

Storyville from Louis Armstrong Park

The walk ends at Louis Armstrong Park, where the group can sit in shade and look at photos while hearing about Storyville’s characters and past. This is a useful way to picture a district that no longer survives in its original form.

The grand buildings that once lined Basin Street were replaced by the Iberville Projects, and the park now overlooks the area Storyville occupied. That change gives the conversation a physical anchor: you are not simply hearing about a vanished neighborhood, but looking across the place where it stood.

The advertised themes also include the French Market, once described as one of the city’s most dangerous areas, and the Golden Lantern, where the tour tells the story of Southern Decadence. May Baily’s Place, identified as New Orleans’ first legal brothel, is another featured subject. These are useful topics to ask your guide about, but the precise route and time spent at each stop are not specified.

A walking tour shaped by its guides

The guide can make or break a history walk, especially one that handles painful subjects and colorful legends. Josh and Tracy have both led this tour. Josh is noted for mixing women’s history with architectural observations and other New Orleans details, while Tracy is described as bringing broader city context and keeping the walk at a comfortable pace.

That mix matters. A route focused only on vice could become a string of lurid anecdotes. Architectural notes and wider city history help set the stories in context and give you more to notice as you move through the French Quarter.

The group limit is 15 people. That is small enough to make a question feel natural, without turning the tour into a private experience. Most people can participate, and service animals are allowed.

What the $35 price gets you

At $35 per person, you are paying for about two hours of guided walking and interpretation, not admission to attractions or a drink. The value depends on whether you want help connecting the city’s places to the complicated stories of women, sex work, and power.

The route covers several distinct subjects: the Ursuline convent, a smuggling-era bar, Marie Laveau, Storyville, and other vice-district landmarks and stories. A guide also adds architecture and general New Orleans history. If you prefer a structured walk with local context to exploring those subjects alone, the price is reasonable for the time involved.

There are limits. Some stops are short, and the tour may pause at Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop rather than guaranteeing a visit every time. Cocktails cost extra, and there is no promise that every featured location will be visited in depth. You are buying a guided overview, not a lengthy visit at each site.

Planning the afternoon walk

The tour starts at 2:00 p.m. at Chartres Street and Ursulines Avenue and ends at Louis Armstrong Park, at 701 N. Rampart Street. Since the finish differs from the starting point, plan your next stop around the park rather than expecting to return to the meeting place with the group.

The experience lasts about two hours and is offered in English. It uses a mobile ticket, and the group is limited to 15. The tour is near public transportation, though the exact route you take to the meeting point depends on where you are staying.

New Orleans heat can make even a two-hour walk feel longer. The tour sometimes uses Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop as a break and cooling-off point, but do not count on a drink being included. Bring what you need to stay comfortable on a walk, and remember that the advertised experience is on foot.

This tour is booked, on average, about 30 days ahead. If the date matters to your plans, checking availability early is sensible. Free cancellation is available until 24 hours before the start time; changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted for a refund.

Who will get the most from this tour

I’d choose this walk if you want women’s history that takes on difficult subjects directly, or if you have already seen the French Quarter’s familiar landmarks and want to understand its less polished past. The connections between the convent, Marie Laveau, Storyville, and the city’s vice districts give the walk a clear theme.

It also suits you if you like hearing history from a guide who can add architecture and broader city context without rushing from stop to stop. The reported pace is comfortable, and the small group limit should make it easier to follow the conversation.

You may prefer another activity if you want a cocktail tour, guaranteed entry to historic buildings, or a tightly defined itinerary with a fixed stop at every advertised site. Here, the strength is the storytelling and the way the subjects connect. Some details of the route can vary, and the stories include abuse and sexual exploitation.

Should you book The Badly Behaved Women Who Made New Orleans Tour?

Book it if you want a thoughtful, two-hour introduction to the women and institutions behind New Orleans’ vice history, with Storyville and the French Quarter as its setting. The $35 fee is fair for a guided walk with this much historical range, especially if you value the added architectural and city context.

Skip it if you are mainly after drinks, interiors, or a guaranteed visit to each named place. For a more revealing look at the city’s past, and a guide-led walk that treats women’s history as more than a side note, it is a strong choice.

FAQ

How much does the tour cost?

The tour costs $35 per person.

How long does the tour last?

It lasts about two hours.

Where does the tour start?

It starts at Chartres Street and Ursulines Avenue in New Orleans.

What time does the tour start?

The listed start time is 2:00 p.m.

Where does the tour end?

It ends at Louis Armstrong Park, at 701 N. Rampart Street.

What language is the tour offered in?

The tour is offered in English.

Are drinks included in the price?

No. Alcoholic beverages are not included, though the guide offers suggestions for historic cocktails.

How large is the group?

The maximum group size is 15 people.

Are service animals allowed?

Yes, service animals are allowed.

Can I cancel for a refund?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the tour are not accepted for a refund.