National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
419 Decatur Street
New Orleans, LA 70130
504 589-3882 phone
www.nps.gov/jela
Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve
News Release
For Immediate Release October 31, 2007
Kristy Wallisch 504-382-0296
Soldiers, Civilians Of 1815 Return To Chalmette Battlefield In January
In January, the men and women of 1815 will return to Chalmette Battlefield, site of the Battle of New Orleans, for the 193nd Anniversary of the Battle of New Orleans. More information is available at 504-589-2636 ext. 1 or at http://www.nps.gov/jela/battle-of-new-orleans-commemoration.htm. Chalmette Battlefield is located at:
8606 West St. Bernard Highway
in Chalmette, Louisiana.
Events scheduled for the commemoration are:
Wreath-laying at Chalmette Monument, Tuesday, January 8, 10:00 a.m. Free. A short ceremony will pay tribute to the men who fought at the Battle of New Orleans in 1815. Parking will be available at the battlefield.
193nd anniversary commemoration, Friday and Saturday, January 11 and 12, 9:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Free.
National Park Service rangers and living history experts dressed as civilians and soldiers from 1815 will share their stories, fire cannons and muskets, and explain the importance of the battle in American history. Visitors can discuss tactics with the generals and learn the fine points of campfire cooking. On Saturday, the Kids Camp will offers uniforms to try on and 1815 games to play. Only school buses, battlefield shuttles, and vehicles with handicapped parking tags will be allowed on the battlefield grounds. Free public parking will be available at the St. Bernard Parish Courthouse, 1101 West St. Bernard Highway, Chalmette.
Free shuttles will run continuously from the parking area to the battlefield. Visitors may bring picnic lunches; no food or drinking fountains are available at the battlefield but bottled water will be on sale.
Lantern Tour, Friday, January 11. $4 per ticket; children under 5 free (no ticket needed). Experience the “night before the battle” on guided tours by lantern light through the American and British camps. The first tour begins at 6:00 p.m.; the evening’s last tour starts at 8:30 p.m. Tours last about 90 minutes, including travel time from the parking area. Tickets will be on sale December 1-January 10 at the Chalmette Battlefield Visitor Center (Friday-Sunday, 9:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; cash or checks only); at the park’s headquarters (419 Decatur Street, New Orleans, Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; cash or checks only); or by mail (Attn: Lantern Tour, Jean Lafitte NHP&P, 419 Decatur St., New Orleans, 70130; checks only; include daytime phone number and preferred tour time). No tickets will be sold at the door or on the day of event. Lantern Tour parking will be at the St. Bernard Parish Courthouse; free shuttles will run from the courthouse to the battlefield. Restrooms and a Hospitality and Welcome Center sponsored by the St. Bernard Parish Tourism Commission will be available at the courthouse.
Reenactment, Saturday, January 12, 4:30 p.m. Free. St. Bernard Parish sponsors a re-creation of the December 23, 1814, night skirmish at historic Pakenham Oaks in Chalmette, just downriver from Chalmette Battlefield. No parking is available at Pakenham Oaks; shuttle buses will run from the event parking area at the St. Bernard Parish Courthouse.
Chalmette Battlefield is one of six areas of Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve. The battlefield grounds and adjoining national cemetery are open Monday-Thursday 7:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. and Friday-Sunday 9:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Admission to the site is free. For more information, call 504-589-2636 ext. 1 or visit www.nps.gov/jela.
