After Louisiana's secession from the Union in January 1861, the foundry manufactured arms for the Confederate Army. They also had the contract to build two ironclads: the Louisiana and the Mississippi for the Confederate Navy.
The ships were not finished when New Orleans fell to Union forces in 1862. The Mississippi had not been built and the CSS Louisiana was towed down the river and used as a floating battery during Farragut's passing the forts.
New Orleans was seized in April 1862.
The building that remains of the company was designed by James Gallier in 1852 and is typical commercial construction. The Gothic Street elevation is of stuccoed brick ornamented with cast iron columns and window frames. The building is located at the head of Diamond Street neutral ground (St. Mary's Park), giving it some prominence.
It currently houses the fascinating Preservation Resource Center of New Orleans.
--Old Secesh
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