New Orleans Streetcars

New Orleans is a melting pot of cultures that brings an exotic blend of music, food, architecture, and voyeurism. As a musician, I’m captivated by the variety of tremendous music, from street performers to jazz greats. And a great meal is seldom more than a few steps away. But a hidden gem for me is the streetcars, particularly the St. Charles line.  So on a recent trip, I couldn’t help but take a few images of these museums that continuously move people through the city.

The St. Charles line dates back to 1835, when the streetcars were pulled by mules. At some point, the cars were briefly pulled by steam locomotives, but this practice was ended after female passengers complained of soot ruining clothing. In 1884, the 6.5 mile line was converted so that the cars would run on electricity. Amazingly, the current St. Charles line streetcars were built in 1923. Simply put, these cars are working museums on wheels. Just a much as a second-line band, these streetcars are a living pulse of New Orleans.