Brian, our tour guide, was fantastic in explaining so many aspects of the French _and Spanish_ history of the city, and touched on more contemporary issues such as the causes and effects of Hurricane Katrina as well. He has a loud voice that reached us all in the audience as we walked through the city, and he was supremely energetic. He stayed after for any questions, and to offer recommendations as well. It was a great introduction to the city and would definitely recommend this tour to a first-time visitor.
I was also very happy that the money was going towards a non-profit aimed at conserving portions of the city's history. The tickets to the tour also get you an admission to the 1850 house (where the tour begins), so there's that too.