Toulouse Street

727 Rue Toulouse

The main structure of the Maison de Ville, whose name in French means town house, was just that-a two-story dwelling rebuilt circa 1800 after a fire destroyed most of the French Quarter. An early occupant was Antoine Amede Peychaud, an apothecary remembered for serving a potent drink he created of brandy and bitters-perhaps the city's first cocktail! Across the tranquil courtyard, the four original slave quarters, constructed some 50 years earlier. The nearby cottages are named for John James Audubon, who in 1821 produced a portion of his Birds of America series while residing here. And the lush courtyard is where Tennessee Williams is said to have worked on a number of his plays. Source: http://www.nationaltrust.org/historic_hotels/hotel.asp?hID=67