Chalmette Battlefield, site of the Battle of New Orleans in 1815, will re-open its grounds to the public on Sunday, September 17th. The battlefield and adjoining national cemetery have been closed since August 2005 due to damage from Hurricane Katrina.
All buildings except the public restrooms remain closed, however, due to ongoing repairs.
The battlefield grounds and public restrooms will be open Mondays through Thursdays 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Fridays through Sundays from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Admission to the site is free.
The temporary battlefield visitor center is still under construction; it is expected to open in late fall. Chalmette National Cemetery is accessible by walking in through the cemetery’s main gate at any time or driving from the battlefield tour road when the battlefield grounds are open.
The historic Malus-Beauregard House and Chalmette Monument remain closed; repairs are expected to start by the end of the year. Although flooded by water from Hurricane Katrina, the house received minor damage and is closed for roof and structural repairs scheduled prior to the hurricane.
The monument’s stone façade has been repointed but interior staircase handrails remain unsafe for visitor use.
“We are glad we can open this nationally important site,” said Dave Herrera, acting superintendent of Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve. “It’s been a difficult job to get the battlefield back to this point but the encouragement we’ve received from the people of St. Bernard Parish and throughout the country has been a great help. We’re looking forward to the day when we can once again host school groups, give programs, and share the story of the Battle of New Orleans.”
