John Magill is an historian who recently retired after years with The Historic New Orleans Collection. Magill may know more about New Orleans’ history than almost anyone else in the city, and has recently begun writing a book about Magazine Street. In this podcast, he explains how Magazine Street began as a retail mecca. According to Magill, as early as the the mid-1800s, the street had four busy markets. In an attempt to attract shoppers who lived outside of the immediate neighborhood, the city tore up the streetcar tracks in 1948 and asphalted Magazine Street from Canal Street all the way to the Mississippi R over levee. Regarding his book, Magill notes that along with the history of this popular street, the coffee table book will include an affectionate and nostalgic look at Magazine Street as well.
Listen to the podcast here.
