Our Lady of Guadalupe Church & International Shrine of St. Jude

This building on the corner of North Rampart and Conti streets is the oldest church structure in New Orleans, distinguishable by its sturdy brick exterior that has stood since eighteen twenty-six. Originally built as the Mortuary Chapel of Saint Anthony of Padua, it was constructed away from the city's main cathedral to manage the funerals of yellow fever victims. At the time, residents believed the disease spread through the air near the dead, so services were restricted to this chapel to keep the infection from reaching the crowded Saint Louis Cathedral.