Cocktails, Craps & the Invention of Fun
A pharmacist accidentally invented the cocktail. A Creole aristocrat introduced craps and named a street after it. A bartender required twelve minutes of shaking and closed at eight because he hated drunks. Walk from the Roosevelt Hotel to Frenchmen Street and discover how New Orleans invented the good time.
View in App — $9.99What You'll Experience
Plan your walk
Know the route before you buy
- Starts at
- Introduction
- Ends at
- The Reveal
- Walking plan
- 1h 30m · ~1.8 miles
- Schedule
- Start, pause, and resume anytime
Included in the app
- Professional narration
- GPS-triggered stops
- Downloadable tour audio
- Ask the Historian Q&A
- Optional end-of-tour reveal
- All 10 story stops
A taste of what you'll hear
10 stops, each with its own story. Here's a preview.
"In eighteen eighty-eight, a bartender in New Orleans invented a cocktail that required twelve minutes of continuous shaking."
"The building with the octagonal cupola on top — that's Napoleon House. It's been crumbling beautifully since seventeen ninety-four, and at this point the decay is basically a design choice."
"Alright. You made it. Let's see how you did. Henry Ramos — twelve minutes of shaking, thirty-five shaker boys, closed at eight o'clock because he hated drunks — all real."
Tour itinerary
Every stop on this walk
Explore the route before you go. Each stop has its own story preview, location details, and place in the larger tour.
- 1Introduction Read this stop
- 2The Sazerac Bar Read this stop
- 3The Carousel Bar at Hotel Monteleone Read this stop
- 4The Old Absinthe House Read this stop
- 5Peychaud's Pharmacy Read this stop
- 6Napoleon House Read this stop
- 7Cafe Du Monde Read this stop
- 8Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop Bar Read this stop
- 9Frenchmen Street Read this stop
- 10The Reveal Read this stop
Stories first
Every stop is built around people, conflict, ambition, and consequences—not a plaque read aloud.
Most of it is true. The extra mischief is just a wink at the end, but the story is what carries the walk.
Have questions? Just ask.
Curious about something you heard? Want to know more about a place? Ask us anything — we have a lot to say. It's more fun when it's a conversation.
Ready?
Download the app, head to the starting point, and press play. The stories start themselves.
Get the AppBefore you go
Quick answers
How much is this tour?
$9.99 as a one-time purchase in the iOS app. The New Orleans city pack is $14.99 and includes every currently available tour in the city.
Can I use it with spotty cell service?
Download the tour audio on Wi-Fi before leaving. Cached narration plays without streaming; map tiles and other online features may still need a connection.
Do I have to start at a specific time?
No. Start when it suits you, pause for a detour or meal, and resume later. Check the opening hours of any venue you personally plan to enter.
Are admission tickets included?
The purchase covers the Bad Historian audio experience. Transportation, food, and admission to third-party attractions are not included.
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One-time
$9.99