Cast Iron and the Crescent City - Paperback

by Lydia Schmalz (Author), Ann Masson (Author)

A pictorial examination of cast iron in New Orleans. Cast iron artistry remains an iconic characteristic of New Orleans, familiar to both locals and visitors alike. Beginning with the origins of cast iron, this pictorial study follows its evolution into contemporary times. Ornate illustrations depict the various patterns of cast iron that have been used over the years while photographs portray examples of the artistry throughout the city.

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Familiar to both locals and visitors, cast iron artistry remains an iconic characteristic of New Orleans architecture. This pictorial study traces the iron work's history from its origins in England in the sixteenth century to the establishment of the Leeds Iron Foundry in New Orleans in 1825 and cast iron's evolution throughout contemporary times. While ornate illustrations depict the various patterns of cast iron that have been used over the years, sections of the text detail the difference between cast iron and wrought iron. Photographs portray examples of cast iron throughout the city of New Orleans, with the address of each establishment as a caption. The book also provides a list of local firms that specialized in ornamental iron working.

Established in 1950, the Louisiana Landmarks Society promotes historic preservation through educational programs and the operation of the Pitot House. The nonprofit organization formed when members of the New Orleans chapter of the Society of Architectural Historians came together to save an early-nineteenth-century colonial Creole plantation from demolition. The society's many programs include the publication Preservation, stewardship of the Pitot House, educational partnerships with the Louisiana Children's Museum and the Tulane School of Architecture's preservation studies graduate program, and historic house tours for locals and visitors.