How OLD are the Camps?

As far as we know, camps have been on the New Orleans lakeshore for about 200 years--hundreds of camps--one after the other for miles along the shore.

Many people called the Camps "Poor Man's Paradise" because they were a place that almost anyone could afford to go for a weekend or a vacation. And you didn't even have to ride for hours and hours just to get there because the Camps are right in the city. They were, and are a great place to swim and fish and have a good time with family and friends.

Many people actually lived in the camps and made their living from fishing, shrimping and crabbing in the lake. Other camps were popular restaurants and entertainment places.

There are many reasons the camps are so special. Some of them are:

* Important people in history visited the camps

* The birth of Jazz began at the camps as well as in the city.

* Several historic landmarks line the lakeshore surrounding the camps, and the entire lakeshore should be preserved as a historic district--otherwise it will be lost forever.

* The camps were and are an important part of the cultural lifestyle of our city.

* They are FUN!