The Baroness continued her father’s legacy as a significant contributor to New Orleans as a businesswoman, developer, and widely-known personality.
Baroness Pontalba. Schneider, Frank, (Artist)
COURTESY OF LOUISIANA STATE MUSEUM
The Baroness de Pontalba, Micaela Almonester, was born in New Orleans in 1795 to French-Creole and Spanish aristocrats. At a young age, she inherited her father’s estate as his sole living heir. Her father, Andrés Almonester y Rojas, had been a major philanthropic benefactor to New Orleans.
She was arranged to marry Joseph-Xavier Célestin Delfau de Pontalba, after which they eventually moved to Paris, where she spent most of her life. Her husband and father-in-law forcefully asserted control over her and her estate. Years later, her father-in-law, fueled by an insatiable greed for Micaela’s fortune, attempted to kill her. She survived with injuries to her hand and breast and sought to legally separate from her husband, though they were never officially divorced.
The Baroness continued her father’s legacy as a significant contributor to New Orleans as a businesswoman, developer, and widely-known personality. She contributed to the revival of the French quarter, most notably with the famous Pontalba Buildings development. She was responsible for the architectural design of the buildings and closely supervised their construction.
This historic brick building, constructed in 1835, was the Baroness’ warehouse where she stored furniture and other possessions.
Micaëla Almonester, Baroness de Pontalba, led the construction of two massive buildings lining Jackson Square starting in 1849.
IMAGE VIA THNOC, 1974.25.27.358