SPECIAL TOURS

	Summer Dress • Gallier House  Every year, the magnificently restored 19th-century townhouse of New Orleans architect, James Gallier, Jr., adheres to the "Summer Dress" code as temperatures soar.  In order to better deal with the summertime heat, the Galliers, like most Southerners, would dramatically change the decor of their home.  Elaborate upholstered furniture is protected by cool white slipcovers, seagrass mats replace wool carpets, and heavy silk draperies are removed.  Gallier House is dressed down for the summer from Memorial Day to Labor Day (exact dates vary annually).
"Sacred to the Memory": Mid-19th Century Mourning Customs and Rituals  • Hermann-Grima House From mid-October to early November, the Hermann-Grima House is decorated in mourning.  The parlor is the setting for the wake with its coffin stand and coffin awaiting the mourners, the mirrors are draped in respect for the deceased, and a black wreath hangs on the front door.  Visitors will experience an authentic interpretation of 19th-century funeral customs.

Holiday Dress • Hermann-Grima House & Gallier House

From the Empire grandeur of the Hermann-Grima House to the Victorian splendor of the Gallier House, we invite you to experience an old-fashioned Creole Christmas.  Amidst ribbons and greenery, hand-made ornaments, cornucopias, and period toys, these two houses celebrate the holidays with authentic decorations reflecting the 19th century and New Orleans' distinctive local customs.  The holiday tours run throughout the month of December.