New Orleans Fleur de Lis

About the Fleur de Lis

New Orleans is represented by the fleur de lis, a symbol deeply woven into the city's French heritage and cultural identity. This stylized lily flower appears throughout the city's architecture, flags, and traditions, reflecting New Orleans's French colonial roots and its unique blend of European, African, and American cultures that make it one of America's most distinctive cities.

French colonial rule explains the emblem's presence on the Gulf Coast: the fleur-de-lis was the heraldic device of the Bourbon monarchy, and the settlement founded in 1718 by Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville was named for Philippe, Duke of Orléans, then regent of France. The flower appeared on colonial-era flags and later on the city flag adopted in 1918, which shows three gold fleurs-de-lis on white between red and blue bands. The New Orleans Saints have used it as their helmet mark since the franchise began play in 1967, and Louisiana made it an official state symbol in 2008. After Hurricane Katrina in 2005, residents widely displayed it as a sign of recovery.