Coordinates
811 Canal St.
Entrance of Hyatt Centric French Quarter.
Literary Anchor
A Confederacy
of Dunces.
Ignatius J. Reilly Statue
811 Canal St • Under the Clock
The Opening Scene
The location and pose mimic the opening of John Kennedy Toole's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel. Ignatius waits for his mother under the D.H. Holmes clock (now the Hyatt Centric), famously "studying the crowd for signs of bad taste in dress."
Iconography: Depicted in his signature hunting cap, flannel shirt, and baggy pants, clutching a shopping bag.
Bronze Eccentric
Sculpted by Bill Ludwig and unveiled in 1996. The statue was modeled after New Orleans actor John "Spud" McConnell, who frequently portrayed the character on stage.
Pulitzer Prize Legacy
Visitor Protocol
Access Level
Free / 24 Hours. Located in a public alcove on the sidewalk.
Preservation
Statue is moved indoors during Mardi Gras to prevent damage.
Legacy: John Kennedy Toole
"I am at the moment writing a lengthy indictment against our century."