The city of New Orleans straddles the Mississippi River in the state of Louisiana. New Orleans is famous for its abundance of unique architectural styles, most notably the Creole townhouses of the French Quarter with large courtyards and intricate iron balconies. St Charles Avenue is famed for its large antebellum mansions in various styles such as Greek Revival, Colonial and Victorian. New Orleans is also home to numerous celebrations including the Mardi Gras music festival.