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Roughly bounded by Camp, Common, Tchoupitoulas and Poydras Streets, the Picayune Place Historic District is noted for its unparalleled collection of intact 19th century commercial buildings. The district derives its name from the block-long street running between Gravier and Natchez that backs the 300 block of Camp Street. The original offices of the Daily Picayune newspaper were located in this block, in the building at 326-328 Camp Street.
The earliest buildings still standing in the district are the remnants of the Banks Arcade of 326-336 Magazine Street, constructed in 1833. The Greek Revival style is prominent in the district, with numerous small scale commercial buildings facing Gravier and Natchez Streets. The finest specimen of the style in the district is the monumental, granite faced structure at 301 Magazine Street, designed by James Dakin and built in 1845.
After the Civil War, the more ornamental Italianate style became popular, with the extravagant structure at 214 Camp, designed by Henry Howard and built in 1880 being the district's best example of this style. Later in the 19th century, more personalized designs, appeared, such as the original Whitney National Bank at 619 Gravier, designed by Sully & Toledano in 1888, with its remarkable red granite facade. Also of outstanding quality is the office building at 211 Camp Street, designed by Andry & Bendernagel in 1900, featuring some of the finest ornamental terra-cotta in the city. The 20th century has seen remarkable little change to the district. A notable addition to the district the Board of Trade Plaza, created in 1968 on the site of the St. James Hotel. This small public park provides an oasis for the pedestrian. Conversions of office buildings to condominiums and small hotels began in the district in the 1990s.
The character of the district is defined by blockfaces of three and four story masonry commercial buildings, erected on the front property lines. This is a very dense environment, with minimal open space and no setbacks from the property line.