Once you entered through the gate at the convent, you enter into a big and shrub covered courtyard. Directly inside the Old Ursuline Convent was a Staircase. The staircase actually was from 1734 and its the only freestanding staircase. Its railing are hand-forged iron, and they beautifully accent the winding staircase. When the Convent was build it was relocated from its previous location. Next to the staircase, their was a clock that the Ursulines brought when they moved to New Orleans in 1727. They actually took the clock to Texas where it was damaged by a Hurricane sometime in the 1900s. None at the Ursulines or students at the time survived, and it was eventually brought back to New Orleans. Both the guides at both the Old Ursuline Convent and St. Louis Cathedral mentioned Venerable Henriette Delille. They hope someday that she will make sainthood. The St. Louis Cathedral is filled with flags, artwork, and stain glass windows. Personally, I thought the statues inside near the front of the cathedral representing faith, hope, and charity most interesting. Everyone in the city at the time had to be baptized catholic, even the slaves had to be baptized catholic in order to be able to come to the city. Catholicism in the Quarter and in New Orleans was a big deal, and despite fires and catastrophes, important building and artifacts has been restored and preserved for future generations. Many residents of New Orleans remain catholic today, however it is no longer a requirement to be allowed to live there.
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