1718- Jean Baptist Le Moyne, “Bienville,” founded New Orleans along the Mississippi River. This trade-friendly location later became the capitol of the French colony of Louisiana and shaped the future of the United States.
1762- France gives Louisiana to Spain.
1795-98 Spain signed a three year treaty granting Americans the right to freely navigate the Mississippi River and the right to deposit goods in the Port of New Orleans. After the treaty expired, Spain refused to allow American vessels to enter the Port of New Orleans.
1798- Americans in the Ohio Basin claimed they couldn’t survive without the use of the Mississippi River. President Thomas Jefferson suggests purchasing New Orleans from Spain, which had secretly given Louisiana back to France.
1803- The U.S. buys the entire colony of Louisiana from France for $15 million. The Louisiana Purchase doubled the U.S. in size, all due to the need for the Port of New Orleans.
1862- One year after the American Civil War began, Union forces captured New Orleans and closed the port to the Confederate Army, cutting off a main source of supplies and money.
1863-1879- Under Reconstruction, harbor and river maintenance was neglected and siltation at the mouth of the river hindered trade. A jetty system designed by James Eads cleared the silt-blocked channel of the Mississippi River.
1896- The Board of Commissioners of the Port of New Orleans was created by the Louisiana Legislature to administer to public wharfs and regulate trade and traffic. A. Robert Bleakley became the first president.
1903-1940 - Eighteen new wharves were built, the Public Grain Elevator began operation, and the Inner Harbor Navigation Canal that linked the Mississippi with Lake Pontchartrain was completed.
1968 - The Port opened a trade exhibition center called The Rivergate, which helped bring conventions to New Orleans and served as a precursor to the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.
1973 - the Port dedicated its first terminal designed specifically for handling containers, France Road Terminal, Berth #1.
1984 - The 1984 World’s Fair was held in New Orleans. The Fair was located along the riverfront and led to the development of the Riverwalk Marketplace and the Port’s modern cruise facilities.
1990- The Aquarium of the Americas and Woldenberg Park were opened on the former site of Bienville Street Wharf and other French Quarter area wharves.
1993- Silocaf, the world’s largest bulk coffee handling plant, opened at the site of the former Public Grain Elevator.
1996- The Port moved into its new administration building at 1350 Port of New Orleans Place.
1998- The Port installed its first two gantry cranes on the riverfront and the Clarence Henry Truckway was opened.
2004- The Napoleon Container Terminal opened, moving the Port’s primary container facilities to the Mississippi River so that vessels with drafts up to 45 feet could be accommodated. The new terminal included two additional gantry cranes.
2006- The Erato Street Cruise Terminal and Parking Garage opened.
