Streetcar Named Desire

I just biked the route of the famous "Streetcar Named Desire." It used to run right by our hotel - The Royal Sonesta Hotel - on Bourbon Street. I biked it east all the way to Saint Bernard Parish.

This picture is a streetcar named "Desire". It’s also named "Jackson". And "Canal". Oh, and "Napoleon" too. You see, unlike San Francisco, New Orleans has never numbered or lettered its streetcar lines. Instead, they’ve been known by the names of key streets on their routes. Thus, instead of "F" in its route box sign, this car would have said "Desire", "Canal", or whatever route it was assigned to that day.
In New Orleans, "Desire" was no different than Jackson, Freret, or a score of other New Orleans car line names, until Tennessee Williams immortalized it in 1947 (just a year before its streetcars gave way to buses). Desire’s only operating distinction was running its entire length in mixed street traffic. (Most other lines ran in exclusive medians known in New Orleans as "neutral ground.") The route went through the famed French Quarter on Royal and Bourbon Streets, as well as Desire Street.

There is a restaurant in our hotel called "Desire" directly on the route at 300 Bourbon Street.