Congo Square

Congo Square is a historic public square in the Tremé neighborhood of New Orleans, Louisiana, noted for its central role in African American cultural life. It is widely recognised for its significance to music, dance and cultural gatherings dating back centuries.

The site is associated with open-air music, markets and public gatherings that contributed to the cultural traditions of New Orleans; it is frequently included on walking tours and in cultural heritage programming. Interpretive signage and events highlight its musical and social importance.

In the 18th and 19th centuries the square served as a gathering place where enslaved and free people of African descent met for music, dance and commerce, practices that influenced the development of New Orleans music and, later, jazz.

Congo Square sits within Louis Armstrong Park adjacent to the French Quarter and near Rampart Street in central New Orleans.

• Best time to visit: Visit during daytime or cultural events when interpretive signage, guided tours and musical performances are most active.
• Interpretation: The square is part of Louis Armstrong Park and includes plaques and monuments that explain its historical role in New Orleans' African American cultural life.