Top of the Mart

Have a drink at the Top of the Mart!

This charming ‘map’ was published anonymously in 1984 to promote the Top of the Mart, a cocktail lounge atop the International Trade Mart in New Orleans. That year, the city held the Louisiana World Exposition and hosted millions of thirsty visitors. The fairgrounds (#9) are one of twelve different local attractions identified within the image. It’s possible the outer vignettes were oriented to give the reader a taste of the panoramic view available at the lounge, but it seems stylized at best. The over-the-top text deserves to be reprinted in full:

“Atop the New International Trade Mart the most spectacular panoramic view of the “City that Care Forgot” birthplace of Jazz and home of the Mardi Gras, gateway to world trade, at the crossroads of two continents. An international showcase, a catalyst for world trade. The Nation’s most strategic location where Canal Street meets the Mighty Mississippi.”