New Orleans

The reduced version of Archar’s 1980 view of New Orleans.

This vibrant pictorial view of New Orleans, published by Archar, Inc. in 1980, captures the urban optimism of the “Big Easy” at the dawn of a new decade. The composition is anchored by the Mighty Mississippi, teeming with a variety of rivercraft and industrial shipping, spanned by the then-singular Crescent City Connection (notably prior to the 1988 addition of the parallel span). The rising skyline is dominated by the travertine-clad One Shell Square, while the Plaza Tower, New Orleans Marriott, and the distinctive silhouette of the Superdome serve as recognizable landmarks of the city’s mid-century modernization.

Surrounding the central metropolitan core are detailed vignettes that approximate the character of New Orleans’ diverse neighborhoods and expanding suburban reaches. Distributed by Hospitality Specialists, Inc. of Chalmette, Louisiana, the map features the initials GMC in the lower left, a signature of the high-energy, commercial illustrative style that defined Archar’s late-century souvenir cartography. This is a superb visual record of New Orleans’ architectural peak during the final years of the regional oil boom.