Alice
Heine was born February 10, 1858 in New Orleans
at 910 Rue Royale. The townhouse in which she
was born and raised was constructed under the
supervision of her maternal great grandmother,
Madame Aimee Miltonberger.
The three connected townhouses were completed
in 1836. Alice's mother was Amelie Miltonberger
who was the daughter of Madame Miltonberger's
youngest son, Alphonse, an architect by trade
as well as an entrepreneurial cast iron importer. |
|
 |
He was very influential in introducing the trend of
large cast iron galleries on French Quarter houses in
the 1830's. By 1858, Alphonse had constructed the Carriage
House and added the cast iron galleries to the three
Miltonberger townhouses. He also retained the famous
architect Henry Howard to design the hexagon tower which
overlooks the Courtyard.
Alice's father was Michael Heine, member of the famous
European banking family of Heine-Freres. He originally
came to New Orleans to organize cotton financing. Heinrich
Heine, the well known, highly respected German-Jewish
romantic poet & philosopher, was her great uncle.
Michael Heine introduced his famously beautiful daughter
Alice in Paris when she was 16.The most eligible bachelors
begged for her hand. At 17, Alice married Duke Armand
de Richelieu, a wealthy man many years older than Alice.
Five years later the Duke died and Alice was a wealthy
young widow embarking on her fabulous career as an international
hostess.
Prince Albert, heir to the throne of Monaco, lived in
Paris at the time and was a divorced man with a son.
He courted Alice and they were married on October 30,1889,
shortly after the death of his father. Alice's dowry
was six million dollars, a fortune in that day. Reaching
Monte Carlo, Alice was saluted by Bishop Theurat of
Monaco as "the embodiment of virtue, charity and generosity."
After five years, Princess Alice decided to leave the
restrictive life of the Grimaldi family. Her father
tried to negotiate a return of some part of her large
dowry. The Grimaldi family refused. Nevertheless, eventually
Alice decided to divorce. She took rooms in London.
Soon her Sunday parties were famous for the talented
& interesting people who attended. Respected writers,
painters & even Winston Churchill were frequent
visitors. She was patron to many young, promising artists
and a supporter of humanitarian causes popular in the
early 20th century.
Princess Alice died in Paris on December 23,1925 at
age 68. Although she lived most of her life in Europe,
she often longed for the lush tropical splendor of her
New Orleans courtyard, a scene of so much pleasure and
joy in her youth.
Happily, the Courtyard remains enchanting, lush and
dreamy, in the spirit of the generous and stellar hostess,
Alice Heine, the first American Princess of Monaco.
History
| Special Events | Photo
Gallery | Reservations
Location | Contact
Us | Home |
