I would give him 10 stars if I could!!! Mr. Leon Waters is an amazing man that fools you at first thinking he will walk slow but he suddenly jets off and you are left there scrambling to catch up! He is a wise man who has lived through so much and he not only witnessed things but takes action to make right what is wrong. I was so impressed with his bravery and the many ways he initiated change for good. He defines terms for you (like how a Creole person is a child born of black and white parents). And like another Yelper mentioned, he provides a portfolio given to you that accentuates his tour and it's VERY well organized!! It is a very interactive tour and you get to hold very historical items. I won't say what they are so I don't ruin it, but those helped me learn a lot. It produced a strong emotion for me to experience something that was used for evil on precious children and adults. This tour really takes you deep into the mindset of things. Mr. Waters also teaches us about symbolism and how important it was in many aspects! It's about a 2 hour walking tour and I highly recommend bringing enough water (but there are no restroom breaks in between) and a hat. This tour is worth every minute of your time and New Orleans will have a different look to it after you go through it. It's very educational and important to know the history. read more

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This excellent walking tour with Mr. Leon Waters was easily one of the best things I did while visiting New Orleans. I learned so much about the history of the land we walked on and felt honored to hear about the work that Mr. Waters and his colleagues do to educate others. There are many walking tours in New Orleans, but don't miss out on this one. read more

Mr. Waters does an amazing job touring New Orleans with a lens on racial justice. Knowing these truths about this city and the history of race in the US will make us a better country. Thank you for your truth, passion and dedication, Mr. Waters! read more

Hidden History Tours - Historical Tours Near Me

If you only have time to do one thing in New Orleans, do a tour with Hidden History!!! We were specifically looking for Black-owned tours in the city, and Hidden History's website and reviews called to us. From the first email correspondence with Mr. Leon Waters to set up our meeting, I knew right away this was the place for us. We took the "African Life In The French Quarter" walking tour (bus tours are currently unavailable due to the pandemic). At the beginning, we received a folder full of primary documents and we read excerpts aloud during our tour to "bring the history to life" - as Mr. Waters would say. Mr. Waters is such a phenomenal guide and storyteller. We felt like we were at a university listening to a guest lecturer rather than just taking a tour, and we were hanging to his every word. It is clear how much of a pillar Mr. Waters is in the community, as he said hello to many people when we were walking through the Quarter. I believe he also sits on the board that organizes to put up Black history markers and plaques throughout the city. This was the most impactful experience on our trip to New Orleans. We learned how the history of New Orleans still informs the present and resonates with current events. It truly informed the rest of our visit and left us reflecting all week. I plan to recommend this to all of my friends visiting NOLA. These tours are very under demand (as the content shares truths - with documented records to back it up - that the dominant narrative is not ready to reconcile with), so please spend your money here and patronize this small business. The value of the tour far exceeds the cost - and will stay with you even after you leave NOLA! (in the photo of the primary documents, peep Mr. Water's paypal and zelle for tips, he deserves it) read more

Hidden History Tours - Historical documents and summaries that supplemented our tour. Can't believe this was provided for free! - Historical Tours Near Me

This tour was excellent! Me & some friends experienced the Charles Deslondes Slave Revolt walking tour & we learned about how this country almost had a very different history. Mr Leon is informative & passionate about Black History. We learned a lot & felt transformed after the experience. This should be mandatory learning for everyone in the US. Mr. Leon also wrote a book that you can buy on the website, if you're unable to make it to NOLA. read more

Really thoughtful and informative. An antidote to the lies and misconceptions we learn growing up or taking the standard tours in places like New Orleans I knew quite a lot about some of this history and still learned a lot. Leon Walters is really engaging, funny and knowledgeable. He backs up what he's saying with real primary sources. I think we're all stronger and wiser for facing the difficult parts of our common history rather than avoiding them. read more

I did the Charles Deslondes Heroic 1811 Slave Revolt Riding Tour along with my sister and 2 nieces. The tour lasted about 4 hours and it's worth every penny. We traveled up to LaPlace, LA to start the tour and visited key sights/landmarks that signified where the rebellion began and ended. Mr. Waters also provided us with folders filled with historical writings and maps to help guide us along the way. I learned so much about history I was never aware of. I was also happy to see that my young nieces gained some knowledge from the tour as well. Mr. Waters is an excellent tour guide/historian and I highly recommend doing one of his tours or visiting his museum. read more

This was one of the best tours I've ever taken- replete with stories of the history of new orleans and Lousiana- covering colonization, slavery, the reconstruction, and present day organizing to keep the history of the city alive. There were incredibly useful source documents that added a lot of richness and allowed you to act as your own historian, understanding the ways national and local politics, revolts and rebellions altered the course of history and our present. read more

This tour was phenomenal. Mr Leon Waters is a treasure. The tour taught us about a small piece of the history of New Orleans from the perspective of many enslaved Africans and their descendants. It is a rich, vibrant, and important history told with the passion of a 300 years-long fight for justice. Mr Waters is expertly knowledgeable, entertaining, and humble before his momentous task. He provided folders with historical records and maps for reference, and successfully engaged and maintained the attention of three school age children. I recommend this for anyone who wants to better understand the history of America and New Orleans, of American slavery, of enslaved people fighting for freedom, and of the role of massive organizations in suppressing our hidden American history. Come with open ears, and open mind, and an open heart. Of course, questionable were always a welcome. I recommend you tip - the tour's value is far greater than the ticket cost. read more

Don't miss touring with Hidden History. Leon Waters is more historian than tour guide, a poignant storyteller with deep knowledge and passion for struggle against oppression--he is a real treasure. The story of the Charles Deslondes revolt should be heard widely. It has given us much to talk about and reflect on in the days since our walking tour last week. I recommend equally the African Life in the French Quarter walking tour, which I was fortunate to take in March. read more

This tour should be required for all visitors to New Orleans! Mr. Leon Waters offers visitors a mobile classroom on the real history of New Orleans including details about the slave trade, white supremacist iconography, and more! If you want to know the truth about the city you love, you must take a Hidden History tour. read more

A couple of weeks since I took this tour and I'm still thinking about it! I worked with Mr. Leon Waters to organize a large group to take his African Life in the French Quarter Walking Tour. It was excellent. All of us left the tour feeling so much gratitude for the knowledge we gained through incredible storytelling, respect, and humor. Everyone in the group shared with me that this was the most memorable part of their trip. It was a good, long walking tour but we were engaged the entire time. I highly recommend this tour to anyone who wants to learn more about the lesser-known history of New Orleans. I would definitely take another tour with Hidden History Tours. read more

This walking tour was an excellent experience! Mr. Leon Waters is a knowledgeable and charismatic tour host. He took our group of twelve through the French Quarter sharing stories and information about New Orleans' complex history. He took us back in time as we explored different places and heard stories about the African experience in New Orleans throughout history. I would 10/10 recommend that others take this tour and the variety of other tours that he provides. read more

I was specifically looking for a black-owned tour company for my trip to NOLA. This was my first trip to New Orleans and I knew I wanted to do a historical tour. Every city I visit, I love to immerse myself in its history. I also knew New Orleans was a predominately black city, so I specifically wanted to learn about the black history of the city. I thought "Hidden History" was a clever name for a tour company, but I was shocked to learn that, no, this really is HIDDEN history (because this history is literally being hidden or suppressed especially being in the deep south). I've traveled to a lot of the major East Coast cities and one thing that stood out to me right away was that the historical sights that are important for Black American history were run down, or there was a placard somewhere "near" the historical site but far enough away, or missing all together. The East Coast cities (white history) are full of beautifully preserved buildings, museums, and monuments. New Orleans historical sites (those important to black history) were run down or missing all together. Maybe this shouldn't surprise me given America's poor relationship with its black citizens, but I'm white, I'll just get that out there in the open. I don't notice these things without them being pointed out to me because I don't experience it. If it weren't for people like Mr. Waters, this history might all together be lost. I learned so much from Mr. Waters tour. It was an awesome experience to explore New Orleans through the lens of black history. Yes, I am white, but the Hidden History tours are for anyone who wants to learn more about a historically accurate New Orleans. read more

This tour was one of the most informative and REAL tours I've ever taken, showing you the true history of African Americans in the French Quarter. Mr. Leon Waters was so passionate and educational, while also adding some humor to the tour as well. He shows us what true post- and present-day fight for civil rights and justice looks and sounds like in New Orleans. We are so so privileged to be able to have this experience and learn the complicated truth behind this beautiful city. read more

Our group was looking into black-owned tour companies and we reached to to Hidden History Tours and were so glad we did! We took the 1811 Slave Revolt Walking Tour and this was the highlight of our trip to New Orleans! Our main desire was to understand some deeper connections between the Haitian Revolution and New Orleans. This tour hit every hope and desire our group had. We absolutely loved Mr. Leon and his insight was magnificent! We learned so much about life in New Orleans and the context that led to the 1811 Slave Revolt. Not only were we given facts, but also the folder of documents that gave evidence and further information regarding what we learned was fantastic. This tour was so educational! We were so pleased with our decision to take this tour. We have already been recommending it to friends and family. I wish we could have done the bus tour but it was not available due to COVID. We would love to come back and take that tour in the future! read more

WOW! We three adult family members took the "New Orleans Black History Tour." It was a great way to see New Orleans and take the time to understand its history from the European colonial forces vying for a foothold in North America to how capitalism profited from slavery in building America. Mr. Leon was terrific. He is so knowledgeable and passionate, we knew right away the tour would be special. Our first stop set the tone - the (now gone) monument to white supremacy against Reconstruction. We learned that the French Quarter is more historically accurate as the "Spanish Quarter" and how Mr. Leon first became involved in trying to uncover the "hidden history" - the truth - about slavery in his city. He pointed out all the "usual" tourist sites in the FQ and how each played a role in the slave trade: Jackson Square (for Pres. Jackson, brutal oppressor of enslaved Africans and Native Americans); the Cabildo (where the Louisiana Purchase was signed. Napoleon needed to make a quick buck to quell the slave revolt in St. Domingue (he failed); and the role of the Catholic Church in the Louisiana slave trade through the writing of the Code Noir. We won't look at the FQ the same again. We spent the rest of the tour traveling through the city to visit important African American sites such as the Homer Plessy marker; Musicians' Village (Ellis Marsalis Musical Center); NOLA's 3 HBCUs; the William Frantz Elementary School integrated by a very brave 6 year old Ruby Bridges; important sites of the civil rights struggle (New Zion Baptist Church, site of the SNCC and CORE offices; and Free Southern Theater); and the Desire housing project where in 1970 the police attacked members of the Black Panther Party in a shootout. We discussed why re-naming things (streets, schools) named after white supremacists is so important. Our last visit was to the Lower Ninth Ward where the devastating effects of Katrina are still evident 16 years later. We learned so much! Mr. Leon made us think about why history must not be "hidden" - the whole story is far more interesting and inspiring. We took the "New Orleans Black History Tour" but if that's any indication, we're sure the other Hidden History tours are just as excellent. Thank you! read more

This was an informative, engaging and important tour for anyone who wants to learn about the real history of New Orleans and, yes, our country. read more

A Hidden Gem in New Orleans! I found this tour service while wanting to learn more about the full history of New Orleans and dive deeper into the Black History in New Orleans. This tour was by far the best tour I've ever taken and was definitely the highlight of our trip. They answered the phone promptly and organized a tour especially for us. The owner recognized my area code and created a pamphlet for me and my group that included our home state. The pamphlet then clearly outlined in numerical order significant markers we would visit and a map that chronicled the historical tour. We covered the entire city of New Orleans from the time New Orleans was settled by the French until present day. We learned about second lines, levies, and the real reason why people are buried above ground (hint: it's NOT because they're below sea level). Our guide was EXTREMELY knowledgeable and friendly. He even took us to a nice cafe for some of the best beignets in town! If you're ever in the New Orleans area check out Hidden History tours! read more

OMG THEE BEST TOUR IN THE FRENCH QUARTER - Caps because its truly that good. Mr. Waters is a WEALTH of knowledge, fortunately it was just 2 of us on the tour that day. Although not ALOT to look at we got some much history in one tour that you would think we saw the whole town. From the discovery of the island to the Haitian Revolt.....I left knowing more than books can ever share and a new found disdain regarding the FQ. Knowledge is power and if you are a history buff like me - Mr. Leon Waters is the man to contact about tours in New Orleans - tell him I sent you! Two of my friends have tried his tour since I went during Memorial Day and even today we still talk about all the info we received in a 3 hour walk read more

The tour was amazing. This individual is not simply an actor or wage earning street urchin making bucks telling tourists BS. Mr. Leon waters is an expert purveyor of New Orleans history. He provided me with literature to review my educational experience. For students of civil rights, black lives matter and the true America. Do it and not with out enjoying factual coverage of our past unfortunate racial and urban disharmony. read more

This tour is LIFE CHANGING!!!! Mr. Waters knowledge is mind blowing! I am GRATEFUL he shared his knowledge with us. It's a MUST thing to do in New Orleans. I recommend this tour for EVERYONE! The words I am left with is WOW!!!!!!!!! read more

I agree with everyone else. Mr. Waters is a font and the value of the tour exceeded the cost. He gave me and my 9 year old daughter a revised history lesson about Andrew Jackson, the Louisiana Purchase, and so many other aspects I've forgotten or remembered incorrectly. He was patient while I translated what he said to her. I wish we could learn all of our history this way. He took his time, was very thorough, and made sure we were doing more than just half-listening. It was so cool to go to the Quarter the next day and see so many sites that had been featured in the tour. Warning for your littles: The penalties for the slave revolt were graphic. read more

We took the African Life in the French Quarter tour with Leon Waters. Powerful and consciousness raising. Mr. Leon was articulate, engaging, and refreshingly forthcoming throughout. The tour itself was very well designed and the historical narrative flowed seamlessly from the walking route we took. We walked away raving and are still talking about the history presented on the tour. Cannot recommend enough. read more

This tour was exceptional. Everyone who visits Neq Orleans should do this tour. Very educational and enlightening. The history no one talks about. Powerful. read more

Today I took the most wonderful tour with Mr. Walter Leon, "African Life in the French Quarter." All the reviews are right: this is the best. Mr. Leon was so scholarly, so kind - I thoroughly enjoyed my afternoon with him and learned so much. I am only sorry that so many tourists come through New Orleans without taking the opportunity to learn the real history. The struggle of Take Them Down to remove monuments to white supremacy is ongoing, but they have had some important victories. Here's to truth and to universal human liberation. Thanks for everything, Mr. Walter. read more

My husband and I took the Grand Tour with Mr. Leon Waters at Hidden History Tours. He was so friendly, knowledgeable, and passionate about the history that he shared. We spent the full day with Mr. Waters and it was the best day that we spent in New Orleans learning the REAL history of events that nobody else talks about. We saw every area of the city during the day from Bourbon Street to the lower 9th ward and there were some powerful and impactful moments all throughout the way. Mr. Waters is a walking encyclopedia. He has the type of knowledge and experience that you can only gain from personal interaction and you can't get this from just a book and certainly not from any other tour. Aside from his historical knowledge, the amount of work that he does for his community is so commendable - trying to preserve the history, culture, and experiences of a people that many just want to forget. We deeply appreciate the time Mr. Waters took out of his day to pass on these stories with us and we look forward to passing them on to others. read more

My colleague and I were in town for a conference and wanted to make sure we made the most during our time in New Orleans! There is not better tour in New Orleans! This is a must do when in town. Thank you Leon for keeping the history alive and your continued activism throughout the years in New Orleans. read more

Mr. Leon Waters is a educator of the highest caliber. He is a multigenerational descendent of New Orleans, and he carries his pride with humility and humor and intelligence. I'm so glad I did not choose to do the silly entertainment of the ghost tour,but rather being enlightened and educated about the hidden history to not only New Orleans, but if the United States. I learned more about American history in this two hour tour then years of high school history classes. This tour inspires me to learn more about the history of slavery, and to appreciate the struggle for civil right and human right in this country. One of the best tour ever. If you want to learn something honest and true and be inspired, join this tour. Five stars without reservation. read more

Hidden History Tours - Historical Tours Near Me

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KELLEY'S 50TH BIRTHDAY BASH WEEKEND I decided to share my love for the city of New Orleans with my family and friends and celebrate my birthday. I also thought it was important to offer my guest a tour of the city and I searched far and wide for a quality tour. In just a few conversations with Mr. Waters, I knew I had the right person. My guest were educated, enlightened and delighted with his knowledge, delivery and the booklets with published info. I've shared this link so they can tell you in their own words. While this weekend of celebrations was a huge hit, this tour was icing on the cake. I'd recommend it for groups and individuals visiting the city and what to know the REAL history. read more

Book this tour! Mr. Leon is smart, witty, and extremely knowledgeable. You'll look at the French Quarter through a different lens once you're finished with the tour. Mr. Leon, "continuer à pousser et à diffuser les connaissances". Thanks again for the tour. read more

We took my parents on the Slave Revolt walking tour. We learned so much about the history of New Orleans from Mr. Waters. He passionately cares about previously untold stories of regular folk, he is making sure to tell those tales, and his enthusiasm is contagious. Mr. Waters also laid out the multi-cultural history of New Orleans in an engaging manner. We learned a lot. Highly recommend. read more

Highly Recommend this tour for anyone open minded willing to journey back in time to truly understand the oppression that shaped what we today know as the state of Louisiana. During the tour my son and I got angry, we got sad, we laughed, we were educated, and we had such a good time!! If you are reading this and thinking about going, DO IT, Go!! Talk to Mr. Waters and tell him I said hello!! read more

Mr. Waters kindly accommodated our request to provide a personalized 3-hour tour of New Orleans in his own car as it relates to black history that tourists would not get from regular tours or pamphlets. He also gave us a packet of information that briefly described a number of places we visited in and outside French Quarter. It became a concrete set of historical evidence that reinforced Mr. Leon's eloquent stories. The tour poignantly made it apparent that historical racism and classism still continue to this day in New Orleans. Yet, the tour reminded me of the continuing racial divide about the perceptions of the significance of race and racism in the United States, as expressed in "Black Lives Matter" vs. "All Lives Matter" in today's language. The type of information and perspective offered in the tour is still a minority view that somehow needs to be mainstreamed without stigmatization. I don't really know how we could do it. But, perhaps one way that the Hidden History tour could improve toward this end is to incorporate historical and contemporary instances of intersections with other social groups (e.g., race and ethnicity, gender, citizenship status, and poor/working class/middle class) in New Orleans to demonstrate ways in which different social groups have had common interests. This could possibly facilitate an understanding for tour participants to see and create common grounds with different social groups for social change in a variety of ways and localities around the country and perhaps the world. I believe it is critical to develop strategic coalition politics to build power for social change. In any case, highly recommended!! read more

Excelent tour! Leon is a great guide and a very wise man. He didn't only tell us a story that is part of the history, he also gave us facts and documents to prove it. It was a learning and understanding experience that I recommend to all the ones truly commited with knowledge and those who love New Orleans. read more

I have been to New Orleans many times over the years and wanted to get an inside look to the true New Orleans and the true history of the area minus any whitewashing of facts. Almost all the Plantation tours exclude the harsh truth of history with respect to slavery and other cultural artifacts. My wife and I both love history and stumbled across Hidden History Tours. Being a Canadian, I truly am ignorant of the history of slavery in the United States. Leon opened up a new perspective to us on the history of slavery in Louisiana and the south. Leon was full of knowledge and pulled back the veil on slavery and the 1811 Slave Revolt. We so enjoyed our first tour with Leon, that we went on a second tour with him the next day. This is a MUST DO for anyone visiting New Orleans. Also one other note: On our bucket list is to visit the Whitney Plantation as they were the only one we had found that focused on the slavery perspective, but we had run out of time to go on their 90 minute tour... read more

you should START any visit to New Orleans with this tour. I would recommend it to EVERYONE. taking this tour and educating your mind and yourself is one way to bring those "invisible" in history to the majority of people into the light! once you understand the history that is NOT told, you will always question the one that IS told, and always be curious and questioning and truth seeking about history in the future. Hopefully one day these tours will not have to be named "hidden" history tours, because real true history won't be hidden. read more

Hands down best tour of New Orleans ever! The black history tour is amazing and more in depth than the cookie cutter tours that are offered know the tourist areas. Loved it! read more

Earlier this month, had a great time visiting New Orleans. One of the highlights of the trip was the Hidden History tour. We did the 3 hour New Orleans City Tour. Highly recommend it! It was truly excellent from beginning to end. After a little research online, I came across the website for Hidden History Tours. What a find! After reading about the tour options, we wanted to book one immediately. Even though we were leaving the next day, we definitely wanted to fit this in to our agenda. I contacted the company on Friday morning, and Mr. Waters called me back immediately. He accommodated our tight schedule (we were flying out the next day in the evening, so he was able to book us for an early morning tour Saturday morning). He picked the two of us up bright and early from our hotel the following morning, in a very clean and comfortable car, and started us on our private tour. Mr. Leon Waters provided such an informative, fact-filled and interesting perspective on the history of New Orleans, countering the revisionist/sanitized version so often promoted. We both still talk about the tour even though we've been home two weeks. Mr. Waters also provided a folder of information, outlining many of the topics that serve as an excellent take home reference. Over three hours of great history across the city. If you have the chance, definitely check one of his tours out on your next visit! May also make you re-think patronizing some of the businesses in the French Quarter. read more

Though I use Yelp frequently,I never post reviews until now. This tour should not be missed by anyone visiting New Orleans. My partner and I had hoped to gain some insight of N. O. history from the African American perspective, however what we received far exceeded expectations. Even though the tour was an overview, we felt as though we had a thorough history lesson. We greatly appreciate the guide book given us at the start of the tour. It reinforced learning about more than 40 sites and stops covering Africans and their descendants' involvement in the creation of the city and the rebuilding after devastations. We also gained far greater insight to the injustices, struggles and fortitude of these magnificent people as well as pride in their contributions to education, religion, politics, and entertainment. The owner, Mr. Waters, gave us excellent service and introduced us to a fantastic coffee shop in the Marigny area called cafe Rose Nicaud. The mexican coffee was delicious! This tour was the highlight of our trip to New Orleans and we highly recommend it to all visitors of the city who seek what is untold in history books! read more