Their grand headquarters built in 1857 became world renowned for jazz music in the early 20th century. But over Economy Hall’s 108-year history, the building also hosted an important and largely undocumented social and racial cross-pollination of New Orleans. From black benevolent associations to German laborers to Cuban cigarmakers to Republican Radicals to jazz musicians to undertakers and many others, their mixing created a strong cultural inheritance that is still being felt today.
