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This building, said to be the oldest in the French Quarter of New Orleans, is "briquete entre poteaux" -bricks between posts. It was through this structure, that Jean Lafitte and his brother Pierre, carried on a lucrative slave trade and disposed of the plunder from Jean's raids on Spanish shipping. It is now run as a bar and a reataurant.

Jean Lafitte (1780-1826) was a Gulf coast pirate who helped defend New Orleans against the British in the War of 1812. Born in France, he immigrated to New Orleans about 1806 and established a base at Barataria on the coast south of the city. He led a band of desperadoes in preying on Spanish shipping. The plunder was disposed of through unscrupulous New Orleans merchants, the most famous of whom was his own brother, Pierre. The enterprise earned them large sums of money.

In 1814, during the War of 1812, the British made Jean a generous offer of money and a commission in their navy if he would help in their attempt to capture New Orleans, but he refused. Shortly afterward the United States sent a naval expedition against him, but he reported the British offer to the Americans and offered to help them against the British in return for a general pardon. The arrangement was accepted; he and his men participated in the Battle of New Orleans on the American side and were later pardoned by President James Madison.

Jean returned to piracy, however, in 1817 and established a new base on the site now occupied by Galveston, Texas. About 1000 followers gathered about him there and remained unmolested until they attacked an American merchant vessel in 1820. In reprisal, a U.S. warship was sent to destroy the colony, but to avoid bloodshed. Laffite and a number of his lieutenants were permitted to sail away on one of their own ships. Nothing certain is known of his life after that.