Like many other large American cities, this area has skyscrapers and modern office towers housing cooperate and regional offices; however some interesting 19th century architecture is also preserved. The area also has hotels, residences, restaurants, museums, and art galleries. Located here are the Morial Convention center, Lee Circle, Champion Square, and the gigantic Mercedes Benz Superdome. The main avenues are Canal Street, Poydras Street, Loyola Ave and St. Charles Ave.

Some locals and guidebooks still refer to the CBD or the older part of it as the American Quarter, as it was the first part of town settled by large numbers of people from other parts of the United States, as opposed to the older French Quarter.

The portion of the "CBD" nearer the river is often called the "Old Warehouse District" or Warehouse District. In the late 20th century many of the old 19th century warehouses were converted into condominiums, art galleries, and restaurants.