In Detail: The Overlook and the Cathedral
If you're searching for some really interesting historical information about New Orlean's most famous landmark, the St. Louis Cathedral, the best place to visit is not the church itself, but the park's Overlook. Here, with the aid of the Eye Icon, you will learn the history of the plaza - which was a parade ground in the days of the French, and favorite spot for public executions during the Spanish time -, the strange (for a round forum) origin of the name
Jackson Square, the geographical relevance of the Mississippi southern lay, the history of the mounted statue at the center of the square, the name of the buildings sorrouding the cathedral and, obviously, the history of the church itself.
Inside the cathedral, have you received all the available blessings Gabriel can elicit with his confessions? Have you tried to steal the money from the statues? Have you looked inside the mirror in the back room? Finally,
Spoiler:You can actually talk with Crash about everything two times. Just save the Hounfour topic for last
In Detail - Part Two: Voodoo Museum
The French Quarter's Voodoo Museum is another favorite location of mine. I already gave you a description of the place from the novel, but in-game the place is just as rich. You can look at almost everything and elicit different responses for every item on display, while some of them also reward you for a certain creativity. Let's see!
Have you used the fan's switch (even before Day 5)? Have you rubbed the wishing stump? How many times? Three's a charm! Have you tried to steal the donations? Have you tried to touch the snake under Dr. John's eyes? Have you showed Dr. John the message you copied from Marie Laveau's tomb? And what about the victim's photo Mosely gave you?
Spoiler:Oh, and just for the fun of it, try dying in Day 5, when the snake is trying to strangle you!
Real-Life Locations: St. Louis Cathedral
St. Louis Cathedral is one of the oldest cathedral in the United States. Built in 1718 and dedicated to the King of France, the church was subsequently destroyed two times (one by the Great New Orleans Fire of 1788) and the final building was founded in 1789, the year of the French Revolution. However, the cathedral was heavily restructured around the half of the XIX century, and little of the original building remains today to be seen, save from the bell tower. Continuing the troubling history of the building, in 1909 the church was quite severely damaged by a dynamite bomb, and in 1915 the cathedral once again suffered damage from a hurricane.
A detailed history of New Orleans' churches can be found at
this url, although I recommend the reading only if you are really interested in architecture and modern history (Grace would certainly like the thorough and detailed article).
Here, on the other hand, you'll find a nice picture gallery that shows how amazingly detailed (for the time, of course) the in-game depiction of the cathedral is. The
official French Quarter site has also a little history of the building and an interesting and often atmopsheric gallery dedicated to the church (if you visit the site, the article about the
Dark Side of the French Quarter is really fascinating too).
As a curiosity, St. Louis Cathedral also features in the
New Orleans' Vampire Tour, thanks to a marvelous scene in
Interview with the Vampire. Furthermore, given the dark and often struggling history of the building, St. Louis Cathedral is often rumored to be haunted, and
here you can read about the ghosts of Pére Antoine and Pére Dagobert, about the strange sightings atop the Bell Tower, the ghost in the organ loft, the ghost of Madame LaLaurie and - surprise! - the ghost of Marie Laveau! Here's an excerpt to whet your appetite:
One local woman, who wishes to remain anonymous, said that she observed the ghost of Marie Laveau praying in the first row to the left of the altar. She watched as the ghost made the sign of the cross, rose to her feet, and disappeared into the shadows of the vestibule – lost from sight in a flare of sunlight as the main door opened. The woman immediately went to the pew where, she said, she felt a chill where the ghost had been. To her astonishment and never-ending pleasure, the woman discovered a worn rosary in the crux of the pew. Looking every bit like it came from another century – nothing modern about it – the woman immediately grabbed it...
Day 4 in the novel
"
Gabriel sank back on his heels into the aisle and leaned against the side of the pew. His gaze found the stained-glass windows. The Good Shepard gazed back at him, crook in hand, sheep grazing peacefully in the paradise of green hills beyond. Gabriel closed his eyes. Take care of him, he prayed awkwardly. To whom the plea was offered, he didn't know. To whatever it was that was out there - hopefully something with an aspect of tenderness like one in the window beyond."
Jane Jensen,
Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers, Roc 1997, p. 171
Day 5 in the novel
"
Things were going slow now. Despite the darkness of the room, he could feel his vision going darker still, a darkness that bloomed from his mind like ink from an octopus, and spread through his nervous system. Every action seemed weighted, every second infinite. And he had only seconds now, he knew."
Jane Jensen,
Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers, Roc 1997, p. 198
