Cocktails, Craps & the Invention of Fun
A pharmacist accidentally invented the cocktail. A Creole aristocrat introduced craps and named a street after it. A bartender required twelve minutes of shaking and closed at eight because he hated drunks. Walk from the Roosevelt Hotel to Frenchmen Street and discover how New Orleans invented the good time.
What You'll Experience
Plan your walk
Know the route before you buy
- Starts at
- Introduction
- Ends at
- The Reveal
- Walking plan
- 1h 30m · ~1.8 miles
- Schedule
- Start, pause, and resume anytime
Included in the app
- Professional narration
- GPS-triggered stops
- Downloadable tour audio
- Ask the Historian Q&A
- Optional end-of-tour reveal
- All 10 story stops
A taste of what you'll hear
10 stops, each with its own story. Here's a preview.
"In eighteen eighty-eight, a bartender in New Orleans invented a cocktail that required twelve minutes of continuous shaking."
"The building with the octagonal cupola on top — that's Napoleon House. It's been crumbling beautifully since seventeen ninety-four, and at this point the decay is basically a design choice."
"Alright. You made it. Let's see how you did. Henry Ramos — twelve minutes of shaking, thirty-five shaker boys, closed at eight o'clock because he hated drunks — all real."
Tour itinerary
Every stop on this walk
Explore the route before you go. Each stop has its own story preview, location details, and place in the larger tour.
- 11IntroductionIn eighteen eighty-eight, a bartender in New Orleans invented a cocktail that required twelve minutes of continuous shaking.29.9512, -90.0713 Read this stop
- 22The Sazerac BarYou're looking at the Roosevelt Hotel. Been here since eighteen ninety-three — started as the Grunewald, renamed for Teddy Roosevelt because...29.9512, -90.0713 Read this stop
- 33The Carousel Bar at Hotel MonteleoneSee that building taking up half the block on Royal Street? That's the Hotel Monteleone. It's the only high-rise in the interior French...29.9561, -90.0665 Read this stop
- 44The Old Absinthe HouseYou're on Bourbon Street. Before we go any further — this street is named for the French royal House of Bourbon.29.9571, -90.0680 Read this stop
- 55Peychaud's PharmacyYou're on Royal Street near the four hundred block. Somewhere around here — the exact address is debated, but most historians say four...29.9549, -90.0656 Read this stop
- 66Napoleon HouseThe building with the octagonal cupola on top — that's Napoleon House. It's been crumbling beautifully since seventeen ninety-four, and at...29.9544, -90.0645 Read this stop
- 77Cafe Du MondeYou can probably smell it before you see it — powdered sugar and chicory coffee. That green and white awning is Cafe Du Monde.29.9573, -90.0623 Read this stop
- 88Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop BarThat building on the corner of Bourbon and Saint Philip — the one that looks like it's been slowly returning to the earth? That's Lafitte's...29.9617, -90.0660 Read this stop
- 99Frenchmen StreetYou've just crossed Esplanade Avenue into the Faubourg Marigny. This neighborhood exists because a fifteen-year-old inherited the largest...29.9639, -90.0601 Read this stop
- 1010The RevealAlright. You made it. Let's see how you did. Henry Ramos — twelve minutes of shaking, thirty-five shaker boys, closed at eight o'clock...29.9639, -90.0601 Read this stop
Stories first
Every stop is built around people, conflict, ambition, and consequences—not a plaque read aloud.
Most of it is true. The extra mischief is just a wink at the end, but the story is what carries the walk.
Have questions? Just ask.
Curious about something you heard? Want to know more about a place? Ask us anything — we have a lot to say. It's more fun when it's a conversation.
Ready?
Download the app, head to the starting point, and press play. The stories start themselves.
Get the AppBefore you go
Quick answers
How much is this tour?
$9.99 as a one-time purchase in the iOS app. The New Orleans city pack is $14.99 and includes every currently available tour in the city.
Can I use it with spotty cell service?
Download the tour audio on Wi-Fi before leaving. Cached narration plays without streaming; map tiles and other online features may still need a connection.
Do I have to start at a specific time?
No. Start when it suits you, pause for a detour or meal, and resume later. Check the opening hours of any venue you personally plan to enter.
Are admission tickets included?
The purchase covers the Bad Historian audio experience. Transportation, food, and admission to third-party attractions are not included.
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Cocktails, Craps & the Invention of Fun
$9.99 · one-time