This week I'm uncovering the real story of Micaela Leonarda Antonia de Almonester Rojas y de la Ronde, Baroness de Pontalba. And, yes, everyone in this story has a super long name! Micaela is best known for helping to transform New Orleans' Place d'Armes into the Jackson Square we know today. She designed and oversaw the construction of the iconic Pontalba Buildings that flank the sqaure in the heart of the New Orleans' historic French Quarter. As the wealthiest woman in New Orleans, this isn't too surprising. But Micaela's life wasn't all sunshine and roses. Join me to uncover her darkest moments and to squash some pretty far out myths. 

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Sources: 

• Frenchquarter.com "Micaela Almonester Pontalba: The Baroness of Extremes"
• Wikipedia "Micaela Almonester, Baroness de Pontalba"
• The Historic New Orleans Collection "The Woman Behind New Orleans' Famous Pontalba Buildings"
• The Historic New Orleans Collection "How Did Louisiana Become Spanish?"
• Laura Plantation "What is Creole?
• Emerging Civil War "Micaela Almonester, Andrew Jackson, and Myths"

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