Hello, my name is Munson, but most people call me by my middle name, Tim. I'm a local licensed tour guide for New Orleans and live in its geographic center near City Park. I have a master's degree in history and have taught European and American history at Southeastern Louisiana University for over 20 years. I'm a lifelong Louisiana resident with roots deep into the state's culture. My father was born on a sugar plantation upriver from the city, and my mother was born on a Louisiana rice farm. I grew up on my parent's farm on the Northshore of Lake Pontchartrain in a big Louisiana Catholic family (7 kids), with a big Louisiana kitchen, where my parents created big Louisiana-flavored Creole and Cajun dishes. (My tours explain the difference between Creole and Cajun. )
I love walking the streets of New Orleans because there are so many great places, lots of history, and so much uniqueness. As a licensed tour guide for over eight years, even the well-informed traveler will gain more insight into one of the world's most authentic and beloved cities. I'll explain how every aspect of New Orleans is made of layers. It's an astonishing intermingling of peoples from the early French and Spanish Catholics to English-speaking American Protestants, enslaved people, free people of color, and mixed-race people. Much of the early history of New Orleans was siphoned through the Caribbean, adding yet another layer to the city's culture. The international port of New Orleans also brought in the Irish, Germans, and Italians, who all called New Orleans home before the Civil War. All these various cultures crowded together on the narrow sliver of land next to the Mississippi River. Crowding together was not a matter of choice; it was necessary because the city is surrounded by water and swampland. The river and early port activity also brought new products from South America into the city, like bananas and coffee. The coffee culture in NOLA is still strong, like the chicory flavor!
These diverse cultures colliding in one spot created a distinctive architectural style, lively cuisine, and the myriad musical foundations that ultimately produced jazz. (Jazz is the root of all popular music today. ) I hope to show you this unfathomable city and explain the complex dynamics that make New Orleans an extraordinary place. As the great New Orleans artist John Scott said, "There is a kind of intimacy of living in New Orleans that's a little bit different than other places. " I'll tell you the story of New Orleans, even Mardi Gras and Bourbon Street. Take my tour, and your New Orleans experience will be enhanced. You'll learn so much!
• City of New Orleans Licensed Tour Guide
• Master of Arts Degree in History at Southeastern Louisiana University
• Current Full-Time University History Instructor
