Chalmette Battlefield – Jean Lafitte National Park

When the British returned a second time to America to retake the rebel colonies the war became known as the War of 1812.  Some of the war’s notable events included, major naval battles,  the burning of Washington DC, the siege that encouraged the writing of the Star Spangled Banner, and Andrew Jackson lead the victorious Battle of New Orleans here at Chalmette.

Here the pirate Jean Lafitte aided the US by using his vast smuggling network to lubricate the American’s war machine.  Because of his help, Lafitte was pardoned and became a US war hero (of sorts).  Thus, the Chalmette battlefield is one of three pieces that make up the Jean Lafitte National Park (the other two are located in the French Quarters downtown).  

There’s a small museum, restrooms, a cemetery to the East, and a small plantation home to explore.

The museum is run by the US National Park Service.  This location is actually one part of three that make up the Jean Lafitte National Park.  We recommend the video that explains why this battle was so influential to the US.  In fact, the guide that was there that day said that this battle was one of two most-important battles as part of the American Revolution.

Chalmette is basically a large field.  You can walk across it but we recommend driving the loop in your car.  When you’re on the road opposite to the visitor’s center, there’s a gate that will take you to the next door cemetery. The day we were there a Mississippi River steamboat tour stopped at this location.  I walked over to the small plantation home and up onto the river dike to get a good look at the river.