In 1856 the Mistick Krewe of Comus began New Orleans’ tradition of Mardi Gras parades. "Mistick Krewes" attempts to convey not just the jumble of the city’s cultures, but also the still perceptible aura of its history. One passes through districts, buildings and gardens reflecting centuries of Spanish, French, and African influences. Streets are named for Greek Muses, indigenous tribes and 18th Century French nobility. Nearby swamplands are claimed by encroaching waters of the Gulf. The atmosphere is charged with an air of mystery: it is a place where history is revered, and where it can sometimes be ‘mistickally’ re-experienced.
