Valentine’s Day Snowstorm of 1895

Streetcars covered in snow

Everybody’s complaining about the cold winter weather in New Orleans this year. There’s no doubt that snow from Texas to Georgia is unusual this far south. But not unheard of.

Browsing through old photos on Commons.wikimedia this morning, I came upon this postcard of Canal Street, New Orleans, after the St. Valentine’s Day snowstorm in 1895.

Eight inches of snow covered the Crescent City on February 14th. As might be expected, the streetcars were paralyzed on the neutral ground.

This view is from the French Quarter side of the 700 block of Canal Street, looking toward the intersection of Carondelet.

Photo courtesy of Commons/wikimedia.org