Many drivers travel on Almonaster Avenue, which runs from the Upper 9th Ward to New Orleans East, without thinking about the source of its name.
New Orleans first dedicated Almonaster Avenue in 1852. The street was named after Andrés Almonaster y Rojas, an 18th-century royal notary and philanthropist.
Born June 19, 1724 in Mairena del Alcor, Spain, Almonester did not have much money when he came to New Orleans in 1769.
“He arrived in Louisiana with Gov. Alejandro O’Reilly, and quickly established himself as one of the wealthiest men in the colony, thanks to his real estate holdings and projects,” New Orleans Legendary Walking Tours states. He used his wealth to help rebuild the city after two major fires…