New Orleans, Louisiana has one of the richest and most vibrant histories in all of North America. Brave and intrepid explorers have made their stake in this city and without them the entire face of Louisiana and its area would be drastically different. A group of nuns known as the Ursuline Sisters is one of those pioneers that helped to make Louisiana what it is today.
In 1727, the Ursuline Sisters came to New Orleans from France. They helped provide the first truly adequate medical care in the city along with orphanages and schools. With their guidance, French girls were taught in various fields from language to homemaking so that could be suitable marriage material for the local men.
The Ursuline Sisters' Convent was established in 1752 and is among one of the oldest buildings in the area. The Ursuline Sisters moved to a new Convent in 1824. The Convent is also the only surviving building from the colonial period of the New Orleans area. Today, the Convent houses various Catholic archives as far back as 1718. The Convent, much like the Ursuline Sisters, has an exciting history. The Sisters braved pirates, being lost at sea, and other obstacles just so they can set up the Convent in the great city of New Orleans in order to spread good Faith and Charity to the area. The Convent occasionally hosts tours that discuss in full the history of the Sister, their Convent, and what impact that made on the surrounding community.
These humble Sisters helped forged New Orleans from an early age to create the vibrant city of today. Everyone should, at least know who these women are and what they did for the area.
