Lee Circle

Lee Circle was made after the statue of Robert E Lee was erected in 1884. This is a very memorable statue, and one of several controversial statues in New Orleans. The circle is apparently difficult for some to drive, and it is annoying to drive around it with those who don’t understand how traffic circles work. I like to use the statue as a marker when I am in the area to get me pointed in the correct direction. Robert E Lee may stand for things that are no longer in fashion, but it says something about the quality of something that has withstood many environmental influences over the last approximately 132 years.
It is worth checking out, in my opinion, even if it is to remind of us a past that should not be repeated. I do like using the circle for parade viewing during Carnival. And it is close to the WWII museum and several other great places to visit.

I «stumbled» onto this because I was returning from the National WWII Museum. Getting here was fun because it’s in the middle of a traffic circle. Think back to the Frogger game.
There isn’t much to this landmark aside from some steps to the statue.
Built in 1884, this monument is a 60-​foot tall monument to General Lee. A 16.5-foot statue of Lee stands tall upon a towering column of white marble in the middle of Lee Circle. The statue of Lee, which weighs more than 7,000 pounds, faces the North. Lee Circle is situated along New Orleans’ famous St. Charles Avenue.
The New Orleans streetcars roll past Lee Circle and New Orleans’ best Mardi Gras parades go around Lee Circle. Apparently, the spot is so popular that bleachers are set up annually around the perimeter for Mardi Gras.
Around the corner from Lee Circle is New Orleans’ Confederate Museum, which contains the second largest collection of Confederate memorabilia in the world.
Over the Christmas period, tourism is at a low. There weren’t any homeless hanging out here, but there was a guy obviously taking a break from his restaurant shift. It seemed like a nice quiet place to meditate with a bottle of something in a paper bag.

General Robert E. Lee wasn’t just a southern figure, he became a man characterized by some of the greatest world leaders in history as the noblest of men.
Upon Lee’s death the New York Herald wrote an obituary. It reads as follows.
«On a quiet autumn morning, in the land which he loved so well and served so faithfully, the spirit of Robert Edward Lee left the clay which it had so much ennobled and traveled out of this world into the great and mysterious land. Here in the North, forgetting that the time was when the sword of Robert Edward Lee was drawn against us – forgetting and forgiving all the years of bloodshed and agony – we have long since ceased to look upon him as the Confederate leader, but have claimed him as one of ourselves; have cherished and felt proud of his military genius; have recounted and recorded his triumphs as our own; have extolled his virtue as reflecting upon us – for Robert Edward Lee was an American, and the great nation which gave him birth would be today unworthy of such a son if she regarded him lightly.»
«Never had mother a nobler son. In him the military genius of America was developed to a greater extent than ever before. In him all that was pure and lofty in mind and purpose found lodgment. Dignified without presumption, affable without familiarity, he united all those charms of manners which made him the idol of his friends and of his soldiers and won for him the respect and admiration of the world. Even as in the days of triumph, glory did not intoxicate, so, when the dark clouds swept over him, adversity did not depress.»

I love Lee Circle for a number of reasons. Main thing being, it’s a focal point for giving directions. If you’re a true New Orlenian, you know how we don’t give directions based on street names or North, South, East or West, mainly because those directions do not really apply in our city. We give directions based on landmarks and this is one that’s certainly hard to mistake even for new-​comers.
I’ve spent many a Mardi Gras’ here or right under the bridge catching throws, partied my face off more nights than I can remember at circle bar, even was here for the Saints Superbowl parade which was absolute and total madness (but in the good way).
Though as many times as I’ve passed here in life, i’ve yet to climb the stairs to the top and enjoy the view. Mostly because there’s usually lots of homeless at this statue and that pretty much kept me from doing so. I will say that the city does an excellent job at keeping the grass well manicured. The only eye sore about it are the numbers sleeping on it.

Lee Circle really isn’t much for a park. It’s a nice enough monument honoring General Lee, but there isn’t much for space other than to take a picture and continue walking past it. Furthermore, there are almost always multiple homeless people who aren’t afraid to badger you for money.
It’s a pretty monument, but has only one access crosswalk and no real reward other than climbing the steps and reading the placard. It’s easy enough to take a picture from a moving streetcar rather than stop and waste 10 minutes.
I love history, but Lee Circle has fallen victim to unfortunate location and little care.

Circled by StreetCars
Renowned General Lee
Né’er Took Hat Off to The North
#NOLA_​Haiku

Crazy spot for this lil monument. Placed among the mad circle traffic, streetcar, gas station, and nola bum headquarters. I live right near it but avoid it late at night.

I must pas this place 20 times a day!

I’m sort of conflicted about giving Lee Circle 4 stars, since I’m a born, bred, and proud Damn Yankee who thinks such a giant statue of Robert E. Lee in the US is the sign of some serious Lost Cause-​shenanigans. But I like Lee Circle for the following reasons:
A) It’s a freakin’ roundabout, and every good old-​school city in the world (Boston, Dublin, London) has at least one roundabout
B) That exciting moment when you take the streetcar and you’re like WHOA IS THIS ACTUALLY GOING TO MAKE THIS TURN and it does
C) My boo has a long-​time tradition of watching the Sunday Mardi Gras parades here with his friends. It’s a really lovely event in which we catch up with people we haven’t seen for ages, enjoy the crowds, and attempt to pace ourselves through drinking for several hours.
If I had my druthers, I probably rename Lee Circle to be «Spike and/​or Bruce Lee Circle» but until then I’ll have to deal with the Reb not turning his back on the North.

I’m from the South and this is my General Robert E. Lee on his prime pedestal in the center of our Lee Circle looking defiantly Northward at you invading Yankees with your dirty hipster and sloppy tourist ways! Verily I say unto thee bathe thouselves well and learn to behave in decent civilized ways to dress appropriately for dinner. Truly do not arrive wearing shorts or jeans to present in our fancy eating establishments. Do not whine, balk, or complain about not being allowed entry due to your lack of appropriate regalia when such dress codes are clearly posted on websites and the exterior of establishments.
Appropriately honor our monuments to the War of Northern Aggression with due historical respect and leave your snide comments about Southern culture and peoples back in your frost laden Northern lands. Repent of your Californian attitudes of despising our heavy use of butter, cream, and deep frying in making things deliciously decadent. Imbibe in the holy consumption of alcohol to achieve the nirvanic state of inebriation so that you might fully embrace all that our Southern hospitality has to offer and join us in the revelry that we freely share. Releasing your preconceptions and fully embracing living in the space and time that you’re in New Orleans will unleash a multitude of delectable possibilities.
Now salute General Lee and march on to eat something scrumptious!!!

Beautiful park in downtown New Orleans

New Orleans is a town with many monuments. Some are cool, others are lame, but they all tell a story.
Lee Circle contains one of the more visible monuments. A large large tower of marble is topped by one of the more famous Confederate Generals from the Civil War. It is very impressive to view from the ground level looking up, or from the Pontchartrain Expressway headed towards the lake.
The circle itself is difficult to navigate as others have previously mentioned. New Orleans residents are not known for their driving ability to begin with so a circular road with three entrances and exits is quite confusing to most. The concept of yielding the right of way is lost on those entering the circle and I have had a few close calls here.
Currently the circle is home to at least three, but possibly four of the SPCA Bead Dog sculptures. I would have a more accurate count, but lost track when a streetcar nearly t-​boned my car.

Lee Circle is in the warehouse district of New Orleans and features a tall monument honoring General Robert E. Lee, commander of the Confederate army during the Civil War. His statue stands atop the monument facing north, as if ever on the lookout for the Yankees’ army to return. The traffic circle at Lee Circle can be very dangerous, with cars, trucks and streetcars jockeying for position and changing lanes.

Lee Circle is a pain to drive around because traffic circles confuse people. Lee Circle has a statue that you can’t really see because it’s so high in the air. But Marielle is correct… it is one of those landmarks and it is also a demarcation of the border between the LGD (Lower Garden District) and the CBD (Central Business District).
So a couple of reasons why I am a fan of Lee Circle, both are from the carnival season:
I was at the Circle, walking back to my car after the parades were long over, one Carnival light many years ago and I saw the most amazing sight ever… a car going around the circle in the correct direction, but in reverse at 40 miles per hour; I thought I was hallucinating. That driver should’ve gotten work in Hollywood as a stunt driver.
Used to be that really drunk dudes with death wishes used to try to climb up to hang out with the General. When I was in junior high, I saw a guy fall while trying. Luckily, he was so drunk that he walked away with no broken bones. Plus he only made it half way up the column. The area is now fenced off to prevent folks from doing that anymore.

After seeing the review by Marielle and losing to her to be the first to review I wish to add a few facts here. Lee Circle is a central part of Uptown New Orleans. Beside the statute of General Robert E. Lee there are a number of fine restaurants and bars within walking distance. And the World War II museum is just down the block.
This is also a very good spot to watch the Mardi Gras parades and the area attracts nice and friendly crowds. Besides a new restaurant right on the avenue (Tamarind), a wine shop (Keife & Co.) will be opening in a few weeks at Carondelet St. and Howard Avenue on the downtown/​lake corner. That will be a very nice addition to Lee Circle.
For the history buffs here and I am not going to give a history lesson except for one small fact. The statute of Gen. Lee is facing to the north. You can speculate as to why.

Lee Circle monument to Robert E. Lee, the Confederate General and is one of those classic New Orleans landmarks that locals probably pass all the time and don’t even think about. I didn’t even realize you could review it!
I don’t know if there is much to say about it, other than that it’s there and it’s worth checking out, if you are visiting.