Beauregard-Keyes House | New Orleans

Information

Landmark: Beauregard-Keyes House
City: New Orleans
Country: USA Louisiana
Continent: North America

Beauregard-Keyes House, New Orleans, USA Louisiana, North America

The Beauregard-Keyes House is a historic house museum located at 1113 Chartres Street in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana.

This 1826 Creole townhouse features a stuccoed brick exterior with a distinctive Greek Revival portico. The house stands two stories high and is painted a pale yellow, with green shutters. Its architectural style reflects the period's blend of French and Spanish colonial influences, adapted with American Greek Revival elements.

Location & Access Logistics

The Beauregard-Keyes House is situated at 1113 Chartres Street, approximately 1.5 kilometers (0.9 miles) east of the central business district. Access is via Chartres Street. Limited street parking is available in the surrounding area, often requiring payment. Public transportation options include the St. Charles streetcar line, which stops at the edge of the French Quarter, followed by a 10-minute walk east on Chartres Street. Bus routes serving the French Quarter also provide access.

Historical & Ecological Origin

The house was constructed in 1826 by Joseph Le Carpentier. It was later owned by Confederate General P.G.T. Beauregard from 1865 to 1866, and subsequently by author and poet Frances Parkinson Keyes from 1948 to 1970. The original purpose was residential. The site itself is part of the alluvial plain of the Mississippi River.

Key Highlights & Activities

Guided tours of the house are available, focusing on its architectural features and the lives of its notable residents. Visitors can explore the period furnishings and the surrounding formal gardens. The gardens are accessible independently of house tours.

Infrastructure & Amenities

Restrooms are available for visitors within the house. Shaded areas are provided by the gardens and the house's portico. Cell phone signal (4G/5G) is generally available in this part of the French Quarter. Food vendors and restaurants are abundant within a 5-minute walk in the French Quarter.

Best Time to Visit

For photography, early morning or late afternoon light offers optimal illumination of the house's facade. The best months for visiting are typically March through May and September through November, when temperatures are milder. No specific tide requirements apply.

Facts & Legends

A unique historical detail is that General Beauregard briefly used the house as his headquarters after the Civil War. Frances Parkinson Keyes wrote her best-selling novel "Steamboat Gothic" while residing here, and the house itself is a setting within the book.