New Orleans 1885: Mardi Gras.....

In 1885 New Orleans' famous yearly event, Mardi Gras, was celebrated on February 17th. J.M. Maury was crowned "Rex - King of Carnival" that year, and led the event's culminating Fat Tuesday parade, mounted upon a white stallion. The highly anticipated parade began at City Hall and ended at the Canal Street wharf, where eighteen steamboats awaited the scores of revelers and led a water procession to the exposition grounds. The enormous crowd assembled inside the Main Building's Music Hall, where an ornately-draped throne awaited Rex's arrival. After Rex was seated, the day's events continued with music, oratories, and other festivities. Fat Tuesday was then concluded with a grand display of fireworks over Lake Brilliant, on the south side of the exposition grounds.