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Jackson Square Jackson Square, in the heart of the French Quarter, the historic park that was named for Andrew Jackson after his victory in the Battle of New Orleans. The park was known as the Place d' Armes until 1814. In the center of the park stands an equestrian statue of Jackson. Across Decatur Street from the square, the scenic Moon Walk, named after former New Orleans philanthropist Mayor Moon Landrieu, offers views on the Mississippi River and the Square. Opposite the Square from the Moon Walk, are three historic 18th-century buildings which were the heart of the city in the colonial era. St. Louis Cathedral St. Louis Cathedral has the distinction of being the oldest continuously operating cathedral in the United States. The current building is the third incarnation, the first being a crude wooden structure that was replaced by a large brick and timber church in 1725-27 which was then destroyed in the Great New Orleans Fire in 1788. The current church was built between 1789 and 1794. While not the largest or grandest church in the city, it still remains an important religious and social center as well as one of New orleans' most recognizable landmarks. The church was elevated to cathedral rank in 1793 and acts to this day as the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans. The Cabildo Nextdoor to the St. Louis Cathedral on the upriver side rests the Cabildo, the seat of the colonial government in New Orleans. Like the Cathedral, the Cabildo was destroyed in the Fire of 1788 and rebuilt between 1795-99. New Orleans was under Spanish rule at the time of the reconstruction, thus the name of the building is derived from the "Illustrious Cabildo," or city council of the time.It was used as a courtroom until 1910 when it became home of the Louisiana State Museum and a National Historic Landmark in 1960. The Presbytere The Presbytere, originally called the Casa Curial (Ecclesiastical House), derives its name from the fact that it was built on the site of the residence, or presbytere, of the Capuchin monks. It was designed in 1791 to match the Cabildo, or Town Hall, on the other side of St. Louis Cathedral. The building initially was used for commercial purposes until 1834 when it became a courthouse. The Presbytere was then used by the city as a courthouse until 1911 when it became part of the Louisiana State Museum.