June Community Connect – Annie Irvin

As a historic-based real estate firm with active members in the New Orleans historic preservation community, Witry Collective understands how important it is to maintain the incredible history we have within our city. This is not easy, however. In order to do so, it takes daily dedication and the utmost passion to keep history alive. For June’s Community Connect, we are highlighting a fellow member of the community who shares a passion for historic preservation: Annie Irvin, Executive Director of the famous Beauregard-Keyes House & Museum.

The Beauregard-Keyes House is a historic residence located at 1113 Chartres Street in the French Quarter. It was once a home and is now a museum that dives into the history of past residents who once lived there, including Confederate General Pierre Gustave Toutant Beauregard and American Author Frances Parkinson Keyes. Built in 1826, the house represents a historical evolution of the French Quarter. Not only did the home have notable residents, but people from all different backgrounds from French Creoles to Swiss consulates and artist/bohemian colonies walked through its hallways. Essentially, the Beauregard-Keyes House is a long-standing piece of history that must be maintained. Equipped with a master’s degree in Historic Preservation from UNO and work experience with the Preservation Resource Center of New Orleans, Annie spends each day implementing her knowledge through tours of the home, educational programming, interpretive programming, and so much more.

Annie was born and raised in New Orleans and currently resides in the Irish Channel with her 7-month-old daughter and husband. Being a native New Orleanian, she is extremely attached to the city and works so hard to maintain it in the face of gentrification across America. She has spent a substantial amount of her life focusing on the physical preservation of historic buildings, and New Orleans is the perfect place to have this particular niche. Walking through New Orleans, you are passing buildings of all kinds that are more than a century old! These buildings would not be intact if it were not for the dedicated members of the historic preservation community working hard to implement preservation efforts each and every day. “I’ve been interested in historic preservation as long as I can remember. I see myself as one of the stewards of our historic and irreplaceable built environment. Beyond just keeping up a pretty building, preservation has implications of sustainability and economic development,” Annie says. “I’m thrilled that I get to be a part of a community of preservationists in New Orleans.”

Annie has affiliations with Witry Collective through the Preservation Resource Center and experienced a pleasant home buying transaction with Realtor® Josh Walther. “It was our first house and Josh made it so incredibly easy. We had no idea what we were doing, and he explained everything and made it fun. It was a truly delightful experience.” We are so humbled to be associated with such a talented and driven individual, not to mention one who shares the same passion we do at Witry Collective. If you would like to visit the Beauregard-Keyes home, please visit their website at bkhouse.org and book a tour. If you would like to donate or become a member to the Beauregard-Keyes Home, click here!