Mandeville, La., boasts a rich architectural heritage that reflects its historical development and cultural influences. The city's structures range from Creole cottages to Mediterranean Revival mansions, each telling a story of the area's past. Exploring these landmarks offers insight into the evolution of Mandeville LA architecture and the community's appreciation for preserving its historical sites.
Jean Baptiste Lang House
Located at 605 Carroll Street, the Jean Baptiste Lang House is a restored Creole cottage dating back to 1850. This structure exemplifies traditional Creole architectural elements, including a raised basement and a broad front porch. The house now serves as a museum, offering visitors a glimpse into mid-19th-century life in Mandeville. Its preservation highlights the community's commitment to maintaining Mandeville LA architecture.
The museum features period furnishings and exhibits detailing the history of the Lang family and the broader Mandeville area. Visitors can explore the home's various rooms, each meticulously restored to reflect the era's style and functionality. The surrounding gardens enhance the property's historical ambiance, providing a serene setting for educational tours and community events.
The museum features period furnishings and exhibits detailing the history of the Lang family and the broader Mandeville area. Visitors can explore the home's various rooms, each meticulously restored to reflect the era's style and functionality. The surrounding gardens enhance the property's historical ambiance, providing a serene setting for educational tours and community events.
Dew Drop Jazz & Social Hall
Situated on Lamarque Street, the Dew Drop Jazz & Social Hall was constructed in 1895. This modest wooden structure played a significant role in Mandeville's African American community, hosting social events and musical performances. Recognized on the National Register of Historic Places, the hall remains a testament to the town's rich cultural tapestry and is an integral part of Mandeville LA architecture.
The hall's unassuming exterior belies its historical significance as a venue where early jazz musicians performed, contributing to the spread of this musical genre. Today, the Dew Drop hosts concerts, preserving its legacy as a cultural hub. Visitors can attend events celebrating contemporary and traditional music, experiencing the hall's enduring charm firsthand.
The hall's unassuming exterior belies its historical significance as a venue where early jazz musicians performed, contributing to the spread of this musical genre. Today, the Dew Drop hosts concerts, preserving its legacy as a cultural hub. Visitors can attend events celebrating contemporary and traditional music, experiencing the hall's enduring charm firsthand.
Morel-Nott House
The Morel-Nott House, originally built in the 1830s or 1840s, is a classic example of a French Creole raised cottage. Relocated to its current site on Lakefront Drive in 1965 to prevent demolition, the house showcases characteristic features such as a broad front gallery and a hipped roof. Its preservation reflects efforts to maintain the architectural integrity of Mandeville's historic structures.
The interior retains original elements, including handcrafted woodwork and period-appropriate furnishings. While it serves as a private residence, the Morel-Nott House is a visible reminder of the area's architectural evolution. Its presence along the lakefront contributes to Mandeville's scenic and historical landscape.
The interior retains original elements, including handcrafted woodwork and period-appropriate furnishings. While it serves as a private residence, the Morel-Nott House is a visible reminder of the area's architectural evolution. Its presence along the lakefront contributes to Mandeville's scenic and historical landscape.
Bertus-Ducatel House
Located at 1721 Lakeshore Drive, the Bertus-Ducatel House dates back to around 1839. This French Creole residence features the rare brick-between-post construction technique, typically found in New Orleans. Also known as Little Flower Villa, the house's enduring structure offers insight into early building practices in the region.
The home's expansive front porch provides panoramic views of Lake Pontchartrain, emphasizing the connection between architectural design and the surrounding environment. Its inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places underscores its significance within the context of Mandeville's architectural heritage.
The home's expansive front porch provides panoramic views of Lake Pontchartrain, emphasizing the connection between architectural design and the surrounding environment. Its inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places underscores its significance within the context of Mandeville's architectural heritage.
Johnson House
The Johnson House, constructed around 1915 at 402 Lafitte Street, exemplifies Mediterranean Revival and Craftsman architectural styles. Originally built as a private residence, the mansion now operates as an event venue known as Maison Lafitte. Also known as Maison Lafitte, the property's lush 1.3-acre grounds and distinctive design elements contribute to its prominence in Mandeville's architectural landscape.
The house features stucco walls, red-tiled roofing, and arched entryways, characteristic of Mediterranean Revival architecture. Its transformation into an event space allows the public to appreciate its historical and aesthetic value during various gatherings and celebrations.
The house features stucco walls, red-tiled roofing, and arched entryways, characteristic of Mediterranean Revival architecture. Its transformation into an event space allows the public to appreciate its historical and aesthetic value during various gatherings and celebrations.
Griffin's Bakery
Situated at 301 Lafitte Street, Griffin's Bakery is a galleried corner commercial building dating back to around 1900. This structure represents the commercial history of Mandeville, serving as a bakery and later adapting to other uses. Its architectural style reflects the utilitarian design typical of small-town businesses in the early 20th century.
The building's preservation offers a glimpse into the daily life and economic activities of Mandeville's past. Its proximity to other historic sites makes it a notable stop for those exploring the town's heritage.
The building's preservation offers a glimpse into the daily life and economic activities of Mandeville's past. Its proximity to other historic sites makes it a notable stop for those exploring the town's heritage.
Pat’s Rest Awhile
Originally known as Frapart's Hotel, Pat’s Rest Awhile is a historic complex along Mandeville's lakefront. Established in the 1880s, it served as a summer retreat for New Orleanians seeking respite from the city's heat. The architecture reflects the resort-style accommodations popular during that era, designed to capture lake breezes and provide comfort.
The complex includes multiple buildings, each showcasing features such as wide verandas and large windows. Recent restoration efforts have revitalized Rest A While, allowing it to serve again as a community gathering place and event venue.
The complex includes multiple buildings, each showcasing features such as wide verandas and large windows. Recent restoration efforts have revitalized Rest A While, allowing it to serve again as a community gathering place and event venue.
Lake Pontchartrain Causeway Bridge
While primarily an infrastructural feat, the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway Bridge, connecting Mandeville to Metairie, is an iconic element of the area's landscape. Completed in 1956, the bridge spans approximately 24 miles, making it one of the world's longest continuous bridges over water. Its construction significantly impacted Mandeville's development by improving accessibility.
The bridge's design and engineering represent mid-20th-century advancements in construction technology. It is a testament to the region's growth and the importance of connectivity in fostering economic and social ties.
The bridge's design and engineering represent mid-20th-century advancements in construction technology. It is a testament to the region's growth and the importance of connectivity in fostering economic and social ties.
St. Tammany Bank Building
Located at 201 Carroll Street, the St. Tammany Bank Building is a prominent early 20th-century commercial structure that initially served as a local financial institution. Its architecture reflects Neoclassical influences, including symmetrical design, decorative pilasters, and a detailed cornice. Now home to The Candy Bank, the building has been repurposed while maintaining its historic exterior and character, showcasing how Mandeville LA architecture blends commercial function with preservation.
Inside, the building offers a different kind of charm. It now houses a candy store and ice cream shop celebrating local history and small-town character. The original vault and bank fixtures remain, repurposed into the store’s design, making the space a favorite stop for visitors exploring downtown. The St. Tammany Bank Building illustrates how adaptive reuse can honor architectural heritage while giving old spaces new life.
Inside, the building offers a different kind of charm. It now houses a candy store and ice cream shop celebrating local history and small-town character. The original vault and bank fixtures remain, repurposed into the store’s design, making the space a favorite stop for visitors exploring downtown. The St. Tammany Bank Building illustrates how adaptive reuse can honor architectural heritage while giving old spaces new life.
Old Mandeville Historic District
The Old Mandeville Historic District is not a single building but a collection of homes and commercial structures that reflect the town’s architectural legacy. Walking through the district, you’ll see examples of late 19th and early 20th-century homes, including Creole cottages, shotgun houses, and raised bungalows. Each building contributes to the overall character of the district and showcases how Mandeville LA architecture developed over time.
The district includes landmarks like the Jean Baptiste Lang House and lesser-known homes with original ironwork, wraparound porches, and wood siding. Exploring this area offers a sense of how the town evolved architecturally as it grew. It also highlights how residents have worked to preserve these structures while still adapting them for modern use. The Old Mandeville Historic District serves as an ongoing record of architectural styles that have shaped the region.
The district includes landmarks like the Jean Baptiste Lang House and lesser-known homes with original ironwork, wraparound porches, and wood siding. Exploring this area offers a sense of how the town evolved architecturally as it grew. It also highlights how residents have worked to preserve these structures while still adapting them for modern use. The Old Mandeville Historic District serves as an ongoing record of architectural styles that have shaped the region.
How to Find Great Real Estate in Mandeville
If you’re buying, selling, or investing in real estate in Mandeville, Allison Vencil brings the experience and local knowledge you want on your side. A New Orleans native with over 20 years in Sales, Real Estate, Property Management, and Marketing, Allison has worked with residential, commercial, and investment clients across the region. She’s certified as a Luxury Home Specialist but works confidently at every price point.
No matter your goals, you’ll have a dedicated expert who understands the local market and how to guide you through every step. Reach out to Allison Vencil to start your real estate journey in Mandeville with someone who combines professional insight with personalized service.
No matter your goals, you’ll have a dedicated expert who understands the local market and how to guide you through every step. Reach out to Allison Vencil to start your real estate journey in Mandeville with someone who combines professional insight with personalized service.
