Longue Vue House and Gardens

New Orleans, Louisiana, United States

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Longue Vue House and Gardens in New Orleans, Louisiana, was created as a spectacular estate by Edgar and Edith Stern in the late 1930s and early 1940s.

The home, designed by architects William and Geoffrey Platt, reflects Neo-Classical architecture and was inspired by the Sterns' travels in Europe and Africa. Landscape architect Ellen Biddle Shipman developed the gardens, making it one of her finest works with complete creative control over the landscape. The gardens encompass formal areas, a walled garden originally a kitchen garden turned Victory Garden during WWII, a discovery garden for children, and a unique Wild Garden featuring native Louisiana plants with input from naturalist Caroline Dormon.

The estate was a family home, a place for grand entertaining, and later a cultural hub, with Edith Stern opening the gardens to the public in 1968. It now operates as a museum and historic landmark, featuring the original furnishings and art collections of the Stern family, and has hosted dignitaries and celebrities over the years.

The site is noted for its perfect blending of architecture and horticulture, offering visitors a deeply immersive experience in beauty, history, and education. It remains a cherished cultural treasure in New Orleans, recognized as a National Historic Landmark.