In the early 1960’s as part of a faulty “urban renewal” plan, a large portion of central Tremé was torn down.
In the 1971 after the death of Louis Armstrong the city decided to create Louis Armstrong Park out of the area. On April 15, 1980, the park opened, featuring a Statue of Armstrong executed by noted sculptress
Elizabeth Catlett. There are many important points of interests and historical significance located within the park.

A Commemorative Tree Grove was planted as a memorial to twelve Jazz musicians, including Jelly Roll Morton, King Oliver and Leon Roppolo. The Sidney Bechet Memorial Statue was dedicated in 1997 during a celebration honoring the 100th anniversary of his birth. The larger-than-life head is a copy of one in Juan Les Pins, France, his adopted home. Perseverance Hall dates back to 1826 as the oldest Masonic Lounge in the Mississippi Valley. The Lodge was established in New Orleans in 1808 by refugees from Cuba & St. Domingue. Various organizations, both black and white, used the hall for dances and other social and cultural events. It was also often used for Jazz performances. Municipal Auditorium, a large arena-style facility, was designed in 1929 in the Italian Renaissance style by architects Favrot & Livaudais.

Numerous events have taken place here over the years including about half of Louis Armstrong’s return-trip
performances. Rabassa-De Pouilly House, a raised Creole cottage was the residence of New Orleans architect and Tremé resident J. N. B. de Pouilly.

Congo Square

The sacred ground of Congo Square is located within Armstrong Park. It was also referred to as Place de Negres, Place Publique and Place Congo while under French and Spanish occupation. Congo Square was the only place in the United States where African Slaves were allowed to perform their own music, dance and have their own market of goods and crafts in the 1700s-1800s. These weekly Sunday gatherings at the market laid the foundation for music today. It has been said that Jazz was born of the Congo Square rhythms and the musical styles learned in Paris. It became the neighborhood music of Tremé, and was played by brass bands for parades, celebrations, and funerals. Congo Square was also the initial site of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.