Explore the real-world places that appear in The Tin Roof Blowdown by James Lee Burke. Each location on the map shows what happens there in the novel, the real history of the place, and what's there today. Featured locations include French Quarter, Lower Ninth Ward, New Orleans Police Department, Superdome, Magazine Street and 5 more.
Royal Street & surroundings — Dave Robicheaux's investigations
Detective Dave Robicheaux works cases throughout the French Quarter in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The historic district becomes a backdrop for his investigations into post-storm crimes, as looters and criminals exploit the chaos. Robicheaux navigates the damaged streets, questioning witnesses and pursuing leads among the antique shops and galleries.
The French Quarter, or Vieux Carré, was founded in 1718 and is the original city of New Orleans. Its Creole architecture and narrow streets have survived centuries of storms, wars, and urban change.
The French Quarter remains New Orleans' most famous tourist destination, with its preserved 18th and 19th-century architecture, restaurants, bars, and cultural attractions drawing millions of visitors annually.
Visit: French Quarter Historic District (historic site)
Flood-damaged neighborhoods — Post-Katrina devastation
Dave Robicheaux witnesses the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in the Lower Ninth Ward. He encounters displaced families, abandoned homes, and the human tragedy of the storm's impact. The flooded neighborhoods become central to understanding the social upheaval that creates opportunities for the criminals he pursues.
The Lower Ninth Ward was a predominantly African American neighborhood established in the early 1900s. It was one of the areas most severely damaged by Hurricane Katrina's levee failures in 2005.
The Lower Ninth Ward continues its slow recovery, with some areas rebuilt and others still showing signs of Katrina's devastation. Community organizations and Make It Right Foundation have built new sustainable homes in the area.
Visit: Lower Ninth Ward Living Museum (museum)
South Rampart Street — Law enforcement headquarters
Dave Robicheaux coordinates with local NOPD officers as he investigates post-Katrina crimes. The police department struggles with reduced staffing and damaged facilities while dealing with increased crime rates. Robicheaux must navigate departmental politics and resource constraints while pursuing his cases.
The New Orleans Police Department was established in 1796, making it one of the oldest police forces in the United States. The headquarters has been located at various sites throughout the city's history.
The NOPD continues to serve the city from multiple district stations. The department has undergone significant reforms following federal oversight that began after Hurricane Katrina.
Sugar Bowl Drive — Hurricane shelter and symbol
The Superdome serves as a powerful symbol of Hurricane Katrina's impact throughout the novel. Robicheaux reflects on the thousands of people who sought shelter there during the storm, and the facility becomes emblematic of both the city's suffering and resilience in the face of disaster.
The Louisiana Superdome opened in 1975 as a multi-purpose stadium. During Hurricane Katrina, it served as a shelter of last resort for approximately 30,000 people, becoming a symbol of the inadequate disaster response.
Now called the Caesars Superdome, it continues to host the New Orleans Saints NFL team, major concerts, and events. The facility has been renovated multiple times since Katrina.
Visit: Caesars Superdome (landmark)
Uptown shopping district — Community resilience
Dave Robicheaux observes the contrasts between damaged and recovering areas of the city along Magazine Street. He encounters business owners and residents working to rebuild their community while dealing with ongoing challenges from crime and displacement caused by the hurricane.
Magazine Street has been a major commercial corridor since the 19th century, running six miles through several New Orleans neighborhoods from the French Quarter to Audubon Park.
Magazine Street remains one of New Orleans' premier shopping and dining destinations, lined with antique shops, boutiques, restaurants, and cafes in restored 19th-century buildings.
Visit: Magazine Street (landmark)
North of the city — Bodies and evidence
Lake Pontchartrain becomes a grim discovery site for Dave Robicheaux's investigation. Bodies surface in the lake's waters, victims of the criminal activity that flourished in Katrina's aftermath. The lake's vast expanse provides both a dumping ground for evidence and a metaphor for the depths of human depravity Robicheaux encounters.
Lake Pontchartrain is a large brackish lake covering 630 square miles. Named after French colonial governor Louis Phélypeaux, it has been central to New Orleans' geography and commerce for centuries.
Lake Pontchartrain remains an important recreational and ecological resource for the New Orleans area, with fishing, boating, and the famous Lake Pontchartrain Causeway spanning its waters.
Visit: Lake Pontchartrain (park)
Near the French Quarter — Crime and poverty
Dave Robicheaux investigates criminal activity in and around the Iberville housing development. The project becomes a focal point for understanding how poverty and displacement create opportunities for exploitation and violence in post-Katrina New Orleans. Robicheaux encounters both victims and perpetrators among the residents.
The Iberville Housing Development was built in 1941 as one of the first public housing projects in New Orleans. It housed thousands of low-income residents near the French Quarter for over 70 years.
The Iberville was demolished between 2013-2016 and replaced with mixed-income housing called Bienville Basin. The redevelopment aimed to create a more integrated community.
French Quarter heart — Tourist area amid chaos
Jackson Square provides a stark contrast in Robicheaux's New Orleans—tourists and street performers continue their routines while the city struggles with post-hurricane trauma. The square becomes a meeting place and observation point for Robicheaux as he tracks suspects and witnesses through the recovering French Quarter.
Originally called Place d'Armes, Jackson Square was the colonial center of New Orleans. The square was renamed in 1856 to honor Andrew Jackson and features his statue at its center, with St. Louis Cathedral as its backdrop.
Jackson Square remains the heart of the French Quarter, surrounded by historic buildings including St. Louis Cathedral, the Presbytère, and the Cabildo. Street performers, artists, and fortune tellers operate under the square's live oaks.
Visit: Jackson Square (historic site)
Connecting waterways — Smuggling route
The Industrial Canal becomes a key location in Dave Robicheaux's investigation of criminal enterprises operating in post-Katrina New Orleans. The waterway serves as a smuggling route for criminals taking advantage of reduced law enforcement presence, and Robicheaux follows leads along its banks and bridges.
The Industrial Canal was completed in 1923 to connect the Mississippi River with Lake Pontchartrain, creating a shipping route through New Orleans. It became vital for the city's industrial development.
The Industrial Canal continues to serve commercial shipping while being reinforced with improved flood protection following Hurricane Katrina. The canal remains an important part of the Port of New Orleans.
Uptown green space — Refuge and reflection
Dave Robicheaux finds moments of peace and reflection in Audubon Park amid his intense investigation. The park represents the enduring beauty of New Orleans that survives even catastrophic events. He uses the peaceful setting to process the violence and tragedy he encounters in his cases.
Audubon Park was created for the 1884 World's Industrial and Cotton Centennial Exposition. The 340-acre park was designed by John Charles Olmsted and features ancient live oak trees and lagoons.
Audubon Park remains one of New Orleans' premier green spaces, featuring the Audubon Zoo, golf course, and tree-lined paths popular with joggers and walkers. The park's oak trees are hundreds of years old.
Visit: Audubon Park (park)
More by James Lee Burke: All James Lee Burke books
More novels set in New Orleans: Browse all New Orleans books on Map A Story
Other nearby maps: City of Refuge by Tom Piazza locations map · Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson locations map · Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg locations map