By the 1960s, New Orleans had replaced nearly all of its streetcars with buses. But some continued on humming. As the city reintroduced contemporary streetcars in recent decades, it also maintained a few originals.

New Orleans

Streetcars are a prominent feature of New Orleans, particularly along St. Charles Avenue in the Garden District. Although most American cities replaced streetcars with buses following the rise of automobiles, New Orleans maintained some of its original streetcars. Today, modern streetcars operate in parts of the city, while the St. Charles Avenue line continues to use original vehicles built in 1923.

The city’s commitment to preserving these streetcars involves significant effort from various skilled workers. Electricians, metal workers, woodworkers, and machinists are all involved in keeping the vehicles operational. According to Lona Edwards Hankins, CEO of the city’s Transit Authority, maintaining the original cars presents challenges but is seen as a way of preserving the city’s history.

Artists, such as Terrence Osborne, draw inspiration from the streetcars, viewing them as symbols of New Orleans' identity. The vehicles are celebrated in art and local culture, seen as essential elements that distinguish the city from others. Those involved in their preservation and depiction believe that the streetcars are inseparable from the character of New Orleans.



Why streetcars are integral to New Orleans' identity

We're in the Garden District, known for its beautiful architecture, landscapes, and the iconic St. Charles Avenue streetcar. It wasn't that long ago that our Michelle Miller was serving as First Lady of New Orleans. Her husband is former mayor Mark Morial. All through the morning, she helps us tour the town. First, all aboard. In his work, artist Terrence Osborne creates a magical version of New Orleans. Everybody's getting on the streetcar to continue the second line. And they're uptown bound. And his painting, Uptown Bound, is a tribute to the city's most magical moving icon, the St. Charles Avenue streetcar. You could paint a modern car, and it's going to be boring, right? It's just a car. The streetcar looks like something else. So it's much more interesting. They told me to take a streetcar named Desire. It tells a story about the place that it exists in. Streetcars once existed in cities all over America. When the automobile came along, most were sent to the scrap heap. Even New Orleans replaced nearly all its streetcars with buses. And yet, those iconic green cars just kept on humming, loudly. I think they're synonymous with the identity of New Orleans. Lona Edwards Hankins is the CEO of the city's Transit Authority. In the last two decades, the agency has reintroduced streetcars, modern streetcars, but not on the St. Charles Avenue line. These are the originals. These are the OGs. I mean, why not just modernize them? So that is a challenge. Built by the Perlier-Thomas Company in 1923, it takes an army of craftsmen to keep them rolling. It's electricians, metal workers, wood workers, body men. Like machinist Anthony Maggio, who's been at it for 44 years. Anything that needs to be made, we can make it. What does it say that New Orleans is so committed to that rich, century-old history? I think it says that we love our city, just simply. If you love something, you preserve it. And, says Terrence Osborne, as long as that magical streetcar is moving, the city will never be standing still. You can't have New Orleans without a streetcar. It won't make sense.

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