The details of the roof are what really set this building apart from others in the French Quarter.  The steep hip roof with original French flat tiles and French-style dormers are incredible in material and appearance.  

Bradley Handwerger

The cupola's windows once gave then governor Girod a view of the river.

Your eye is also instantly drawn to the luminous octagonal cupola. The cupola has the feel of a lookout tower, or even a lighthouse beacon always keeping watch over the Vieux Carré. Soft russet and green, these tiles shimmer in the sunlight on a cloudless day, giving it a beautiful subtlety that is unique to itself.

The eight-sided cupola was once opened with casement windows so that Girod could view the river and the city that he governed.

The rear of the structure includes a picturesque garden and courtyard, which can be accessed from a narrow pedestrian flagstone passageway on the Chartres Street side. Originally, the courtyard - paved with flagstone - was one of the most practical and attractive features of the house.

In the summer, it was always several degrees cooler than the surrounding streets. This feature has been disrupted with the addition of a brick wall through the center.

The courtyard can also be accessed through French doors on the rear of the building, which feature fan light transom windows.  The rear loggia leads to a curved wooden staircase that rises to the second floor residence.

Stephen McNair is an architectural historian from the Vieux Carre' Commission. He will periodically write about historic buildings in the city. He says that if you took almost any building in the French Quarter and placed it in another city, that it would become the most interesting building there. Here, he feels that some take N.O.'s unique and historic buildings for granted, so he'll offer his perspective on some of the more and less well known historic buildings in our city.

There is no doubt that the building was constructed for Girod. There is, however, dispute over Napoleon and the truth behind the house being reserved for his triumphant return. The 'Napoleon Refuge' story states that Girod intended to offer his home to the exiled Emperor, should he escape and arrive in New Orleans.  

From almost the moment Napoleon was exiled to Elba in 1814 and until he died on St. Helena in 1821, there were rumors of plots to free him. One story claims there was an escape vessel at the ready, her hull painted black and sails tea-stained to make her invisible at night. Another story had the infamous Jean Lafitte and ex-pirate Dominique You ready to rescue L'Empereur.  

The most amazing tale involves Napoleon faking his own death. The story goes that he escaped from St. Helena, but a dummy corps was buried in his stead.   All the while, he was on a ship for Louisiana; however, while en route, he died and was buried in Lafitte LA, along with John Paul Jones and the pirate John Lafitte.

The basis for all of these legendary tales began when word reached New Orleans that Napoleon had indeed escaped from Elba. The local people, though, did not realize he was bound for France. Not knowing this, the local leaders gathered at the Cabildo to discuss the potential situation, and it was here that Girod publicly announced that he would offer his residence to the exiled emperor, should he show.

This we know is true. However, tales of rescuing the leader are still best left to tour guides and conspiracy theorists. The closest Napoleon came to residing at 500 Chartres Street was in 1834 when his physician at St. Helena, Dr. Antommarchi, located one of his offices to the house.