One major feature of the French Quarter is that many of the buildings were built even before 1803, when America obtained New Orleans in the Louisiana Purchase. The French/Spanish influenced architecture is so iconic and distinctive to the neighborhood that any modifications to any building in the French Quarter have to be approved by a committee to make sure they gel with the historic vibe of the rest of the buildings in the area.

One of the oldest buildings in the French Quarter, The Cabildo, is located in the neighborhood's iconic Jackson Square (named for the statue of Andrew Jackson). It was the seat of the colonial government when the Spanish were in control, and it's where the Louisiana Purchase was formally signed, transferring New Orleans to the US. It was used by the New Orleans city council, and then became the home of the Louisiana Supreme Court-- famous cases like Plessy v. Ferguson were heard here. It's now used as the Louisiana State Museum and features displays on the state and its uniquely colorful history.