Sewers & Sidewalks: The Pumps That Sank New Orleans 

Contour map of New Orleans, 1895. HNOC, gift of Vivian Blackwell, 2009.0162.10

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Sewers & Sidewalks: The Pumps That Sank New Orleans

Join us for this Shortcut Talk exploring how innovations that helped the city grow now pose a threat to its residents.

Discover the technologies that helped build—and sink—New Orleans in this Shortcut presented in HNOC’s A Vanishing Bounty exhibition. Discover why early 20th-century infrastructure “improvements” now pose a threat to the city’s roads, businesses, and residents.

Flooded street, April 7, 1983, photograph by Kurt Mutchler. HNOC © Kurt F. Mutchler, 1985.147.2

Illustration from Collier’s Weekly showing new pumping and sewerage systems in New Orleans, September 7, 1901. HNOC, 1989.91.20 i-v

Hear This Talk

Offered daily at 2 p.m., Wednesday–Sunday*
Free and open to the public (no registration required)
Duration: Approximately 20 minutes
Location: A Vanishing Bounty exhibition, 520 Royal Street

*This talk is offered on a rotating basis with other Shortcut Talks and may not always be available on a given day.
For groups of 10 or more, please contact tours@hnoc.org .

La Lens Flooded Street Mutchler 1985 147 2

Flooded street, April 7, 1983, photograph by Kurt Mutchler. HNOC © Kurt F. Mutchler, 1985.147.2

Illustration from Collier’s Weekly showing new pumping and sewerage systems in New Orleans, September 7, 1901. HNOC, 1989.91.20 i-v

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