This statue of Joan of Arc, the Maid of Orleans, was a gift from the people of France.
It was sent to New Orleans in 1958 by Robert Whyte of the World House in New York, and is a replica of the Emmanuel Frémiet's in Place des Pyramids in Paris.
When it arrived, New Orleans couldn't afford the $35,000 price tag to erect it and it sat in storage for eight years.
Behind Charles DeGaulle's efforts, private citizen funding was secured and it was finally erected on a 17-foot pedestal in front of the International Trade Market at the foot of Canal Street, and was gilded in 1985.
In 1999, when Harrah's Casino was built, the statue had to be moved to its present location, Place de France, on Decatur Street next to the French Market.
"Joannie On The Pony" is how the locals call it :)