flown over Natchitoches. Historic Natchitoches...

FRANCE 1714-1763

SPAIN 1763-1801

UNITED STATES 1960-PRESENT

CONFEDERATE STATES 1861-65

UNITED STATES 1803-61

FRANCE 1801-1803

STATE FLAG OF LOUISIANA

CITY OF NATCHITOCHES

HHistoricistoric NNatchitochesatchitoches ®®

A Free Guide to Leisure and Attractions Courtesy of The Natchitoches Times

300 years of flags that haveflown over Natchitoches.

M a r c h 2 0 1 4

STEEL MAGNOLIAS AND OTHERTOUR MAPS PAGES 7-10

NATCHITOCHES FORT HISTORYON PAGE 16

WHAT’S INSIDE

NATCHITOCHES TRICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION ON PAGE 3

Entering downtown his-toric Natchitoches, visitorsfeel transported to anotherera.

Traveling along bumpybrick roads reminiscent ofpre-asphalt travel, younotice ornate ironwork onthe bridges and shops,horse-drawn carriagesaround the historic districtand locals who smile andgreet you with a friendlywave. Welcome toNatchitoches.

Founded in 1714 by LouisJuchereau de St. Denis, thecity of Natchitoches wasoriginally established as aFrench outpost on the RedRiver to facilitate tradewith the Spanish in Mexico.

The fort, which was to bediscovered, was built some-where along the west bankof the Red River near a vil-lage of NatchitochesIndians, a Native Americangroup whose tribal namemeans “Chinquapin-eaters.”

At the time of the estab-lishment of St. Denis’ fort,navigation of the Red Riverwas prohibited by a mas-sive log jam that was bro-ken up during a flood in the1830s.

Thus, the Red Riverchanged its course, leavinga 36-mile-long oxbow lakecalled Cane River that runsthrough the downtownNational Landmark

District.Once a bustling riverport

and crossroads,Natchitoches gave rise tovast cotton kingdoms alongthe river. Affluent plantersnot only owned charmingcountry plantations, butkept elegant houses intown.

The Red River’s abandon-ment of Natchitoches iso-lated the community, pre-serving its historic build-ings and the deeply-ingrained traditions of itsresidents along the CaneRiver.

With its French, Spanish,Native American, Africanand Anglo-Saxon influ-ences, Natchitoches main-tains a colorful palette ofethnic tradition, hospitali-ty and pride in the past thatresidents share with visi-tors.

HISTORIC NATCHITOCHES MARCH 2014

Ins ide . . .Ins ide . . .Outdoor Recreation in Kisatchie.....Page 4

Minor Basilica of the ImmaculateConception..................................Page 5

Meat Pie Facts.......................... . . .Page 6

Maps, Walking Tours, NSU Tour and Cane River Tour . . . . . . Pages 7-10

Local Native American History......Page 11

Melrose Historic Plantation . . . . . Page 12

Sports Hall of Fame................Page 13- 14

Cane River Creole National Park. .Page 15

Fort St. Jean Baptiste....................Page 16

For more information on local history and events contact:Natchitoches Parish Tourist Commission

781 Front Street; Natchitoches, LA 71457 (318) 352-8072 or 1-800-259-1714

Web site: www.natchitoches.net

‘Historic Natchitoches’ is a monthly publication of The Natchitoches Times

To advertise in this publication contact The Natchitoches Times

P.O. Box 448Natchitoches, LA 71458

On the CoverNatchitoches celebrates 300 years through-out 2014. March will feature various exhibitsand presentations withColonial Heritage asthe theme.

Welcome to Natchitoches:Enjoy your stay in our historic town

MARCH

Krewe OfDionysus Mardi

Gras ParadeMarch 1, 2014

5:30 Natchitoches

Colonial HeritageCelebration

March 22, 2014All Day

See scheduleon page 3

Bloomin’ On the Bricks

March 22, 2014Natchitoches

WHAT’S HAPPENING

MARCH 2014 HISTORIC NATCHITOCHES

NATCHITOCHES— TheNatchitoches Area Chamber ofCommerce is proud to announce thatvisitors to downtown Natchitocheswill now have free high-speed wire-less access through a partnershipbetween the Chamber and local enti-ties. The Natchitoches HistoricDistrict Development Commission(HDDC) provided the financial sup-port to purchase equipment and haveit installed and Suddenlink is provid-ing the high-speed connection thatallows users along Front Street and

the Riverbank along Cane River toaccess wireless broadband. TheChamber will maintain and overseethe network.

“We are proud to offer free Wi-Fi tovisitors to our beautiful and historicdowntown,” says Tony Davis,President/CEO of the NatchitochesArea Chamber of Commerce. “Wehave an amazing culture and historyhere and we wanted to add a thor-oughly modern convenience to it all.”He adds that many shops and restau-rants in the area also provide wire-

less access for guests’ convenienceinside.

“The Natchitoches HistoricDistrict Development Commission isglad it can help make this project areality. We know Natchitoches isalready a great place to visit and weknow this will make it even moreinviting,” says DevelopmentCommission Treasurer DavidStamey.

Mr. Davis also notes he “hopes toleverage the resources at

Northwestern State University tohelp develop mobile apps that canenhance the experience of visitors toour 300-year old city.”

The Natchitoches Area Chamber ofCommerce helps make Natchitochesand Natchitoches Parish a betterplace to live and work through mem-bership programs and resources,workforce development, legislativeadvocacy and economic development.For more information, visitwww.NatchitochesChamber.com.

Natchitoches. The NatchitochesTri-Centennial Celebration beginsJanuary 1, 2014 with a year-long cel-ebration highlighting the history,culture, people, architecture andcuisine that has made Natchitochesa favorite destination since 1714.The

Tri-Centennial celebratesLouisiana’s oldest city with over 160events already planned and more tobe added. The focus of the celebra-tion is Second Saturday eventswhere each month has a themerelating to Natchitoches historywith many events following thetheme but located on the SecondSaturday of every month. March isthe Colonial Heritage month.

Natchitoches history dates toColonial America as Natchitocheswas the first permanent settlementin the Louisiana Purchase territory,the city served as a gateway ofdevelopment to the West. Fort St.Jean Baptiste State Historic Sitewill host a number of events andexhibits from the period that helpedframe our colonial heritage. Aprilis Music Heritage month. Music hasalways been important to the peopleof Natchitoches. The month ofApril includes the Jazz/R&BFestival, a tribute to the Big Bandsounds of Glenn Miller and otherslike him, and the début of a compi-lation of original music written andperformed by

Natchitoches residents. NationalPark Week and Earth Day will be

celebrated in April as well.Women’s History month is in May.The contributions made by extraor-dinary women to Natchitoches,such as legendary folk artistClementine Hunter and matriarchof nationally known MelrosePlantation, Cammie Henry, will becelebrated in May. Other dynamicevents take place in May such as theannual Melrose Arts and CraftsFestival. Also highlighted thismonth will be life in the AntebellumSouth and education. June is theSports and Recreation month.

The new Louisiana Sports Hall ofFame and Northwest LouisianaHistory Museum is featured in thismonth with the 2014 hall of fame

induction class as the centerpiecein this celebration. The buildingwas just named the top architectur-al design/project in the world byAzure Magazine for 2013. Football,basketball, hunting, fishing andother sports are highlighted thismonth. July is Louisiana Heritagemonth. Natchitoches celebrates itsdiverse history and culture in Julywhile joining the country in a largeIndependence Day Celebration onthe 4th. Arts, crafts and perfor-mances will representNatchitoches’ history at the 35thannual Natchitoches-NorthwesternFolk Festival. In addition, the festi-val hosts the Louisiana State FiddleChampionship. Art in August is thetheme for August. A plan is under-way to exhibit the world’s largestbeaded mosaic of downtownNatchitoches. Our famous down-town brick-paved Front Street willfeature Art Along the Bricks.Artists will display, sell and demon-strate handmade fine arts andcrafts including paintings, sculp-tures, jewelry, woodwork and draw-ings.

Also in August is the annual CaneRiver Zydeco Festival. September isFounders’ Day month. The monthbegins with a birthday party for thefounder of Natchitoches, LouisJuchereau de St. Denis.Natchitoches will celebrate the Tri-Centennial with a gospel extrava-ganza, and the annual NatchitochesMeat Pie Festival. Creole Heritageis the theme for October.Natchitoches’ Creole Heritage iscelebrated in October with CreoleFrench markets and celebrationsalong the Cane River as well asCreole Heritage Day. October alsowelcomes the Fall Tour of Homes,plantation tours, a Haunted Historytour of the American Cemetery, theSt. Augustine Church Fair and the“Return to the 50’s Antique CarShow”. In November veterans willbe honored with the themeHonoring Our Veterans. A tribute toour veterans, reenactments, a CaneRiver homecoming and a natural-ization ceremony highlight thetheme. Also in November, we willcelebrate the 20th anniversary of

Cane River National Heritage Areaand Cane River Creole NationalHistorical Park. Also being high-lighted throughout the month is the150th anniversary of the region’sRed River Campaign of the CivilWar and historic Native Americanexhibits are featured.

For detailed information about allthe events go to www.natchi-toches300.com or visit theNatchitoches Tri-CentennialFestival Facebook page and like usto be eligible for exciting giveawaysincluding all-expense paid trips toselect Second Saturday events. Ifyou are a group or organization andwish to host a

Tri-Centennial event please con-tact Ron McBride, Tri-CentennialManager at (318) 238-5489 or emailr [email protected] will continue to be addedthroughout the year. The eventsshould relate to Natchitoches histo-ry or showcase the people, history,culture and cuisine of Louisiana’soldest city. School groups areencouraged to sponsor an event aswell. A group is being formed calledthe Tri-Centennial Ambassadorsand includes people of all ages whowish to help Natchitoches with theTri-Centennial events. Contact themanager for information. So be partof the celebration of Natchitoches,“300 years in the making.”

Natchitoches Tri-Centennial Celebration continues

Natchitoches now offering free WiFi downtown

Visitors to KisatchieRanger District can enjoypanoramic views from thesandstone bluffs on theLongleaf Vista RecreationArea, feel the cool currents,white sandy beaches androcky rapids at KisatchieBayou, experience a wilder-ness challenge in the

nationally designatedKisatchie Hills Wilderness,drive leisurely along the 17-mile Longleaf Trail ScenicByway or ATV trail ridingon the Sandstone Trail.

The Longleaf VistaRecreation Area lies on aridge that provides excel-lent views of the 8,700 acre

Kisatchie Hills Wilderness,which surrounds the Vistaon three sides. This popu-lar day-use recreation areaoffers a variety of opportu-nities including picnicking,a 1.5 mile interpretive trailand access to the wilder-ness.

Locally known as the

Little Grand Canyon, thewilderness area is a favoredplace among hikers andhorseback riders who oftenenter along the BackboneTrail.

Kisatchie BayouRecreation Area offers dayuse picnicking, swimming,fishing and canoeing on thebayou, and hiking, bikingand horseback riding onthe Caroline Dormon Trail.Camping areas are orientedtowards walk-in tent camp-ing along the banks ofKisatchie Bayou.

The district administerstwo developed recreationareas, Kisatchie BayouRecreation Area andLongleaf Vista RecreationArea. User fees are chargedat Kisatchie Bayou and theCane and Lotus HunterCamps.

Day-use fees are $2 pervehicle at Kisatchie Bayou,$2 per vehicle at Cane andLotus and 50 cents per per-son, walk or bike-in.

Camping fees are $2 pernight at Kisatchie Bayou

and $3 per night at Caneand Lotus.

The district offers visi-tors numerous dispersedactivities that include ninescenic overlooks, 12 milesof wilderness hiking trails,canoeing over 20 milesdown Kisatchie Bayou, 50miles of multiple-use trailsand a 17-mil national scenicbyway and panoramic vis-tas.

The National Red DirtWildlife ManagementPreserve is a popular areafor various hunting oppor-tunities. State licenses andregulations apply, alongwith an additional manage-ment preserve permitissued by the Forest.Seasonal designated camp-ing areas or Hunter Campsare established in andaround the managementpreserve during huntingseason.

For more information,call or write to KisatchieRanger District, Hwy. 6West, Natchitoches, LA71457, (318) 352-2568.


Welcome to the City ofNatchitoches! Founded in1714, Natchitoches is proudto be the oldest permanentsettlement in the entireLouisiana Purchase. Wehope you plan to join us forour TricentennialCelebration in 2014!

Natchitoches is a wonder-ful place to visit and an evenbetter place to call home.Natchitoches is filled withfriendly people, naturalbeauty, and a true sense of

community. Natchitoches is fortunate

to be home to NorthwesternState University, the finesthigh-learning institution inthe State of Louisiana andthe Louisiana School forMath, Science, and the Arts,one of the top high schoolsin the nation.

Our community is alsohome to the Cane RiverNational Heritage Area, theCane River Creole NationalPark, a National Historic

Landmark district, one ofonly three in the state, andthe Ft. St. Jean BaptisteState Historic Site, just toname a few. We are also aCertified RetirementCommunity and our down-town was named as one ofthe ‘Top 10 Most RomanticDowntowns’ in the countryby the National Trust forHistoric Preservation.

Whatever your passion,we feel we are a destinationthat has everything you are

looking for. History buffscan explore our State andNational Parks and NationalHistoric District. Familiescan shop, dine, and playdowntown and visit the

Natchitoches Alligator Park. If romance is what you’re

looking for, come and stay inone of our many B&B’s,schedule a spa day at one ofour area spas, visit BeauJardin, the city’s newest gar-den and water feature on thedowntown riverbank, andenjoy a romantic dinner atone of our downtown restau-rants.

Thank you for vacation-ing in Natchitoches. Wehope that you come for theweekend and stay for a life-time. Please feel free to con-tact my office at (318) 352-2772 or by email at [email protected] ifyou need anything at all.

A message from Mayor Lee Posey:

Thanks for visiting Natchitoches

Visit Kisatchie National Forest for great outdoor recreation

Proudly Serving Natchitoches

S TORE H OURS : M ON - F RI 10:00 - 5:00

S AT 10:00 - 3:30

118 S OUTH D RIVE N ATCHITOCHES , LA 318-352-8128

1-800-535-7130

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S TORE H OURS : M ON - F RI 10:00 - 5:00

S AT 10:00 - 3:30

118 S OUTH D RIVE N ATCHITOCHES , LA 318-352-8128

1-800-535-7130

www.choatesinteriors.com

For 70 Years! Choate’s is your local source for today’s finest furnishings

Choate’s Interiors & Gifts... where we make your house, a home.

Whether it be bridal or baby, our gift registries are second to none.

Let us assist you in selecting that perfect gift.

Our exquisite gift department features exclusive lines from Arthur Court, Vera Bradley, and Vietri, to name a few.

from makers such as Henredon, Century, and Hickory Chair.

Now part of theNorthwestern StateUniversity campus, theNormal Hill HistoricDistrict is comprised of theremaining buildings of theState Normal School, found-ed in 1884.

It was built to strengthenLouisiana’s ineffective pub-lic school system followingthe Civil War.

The role of the NormalSchool was to train a gener-ation of teachers to fillLouisiana’s schools andraise the quality of publiceducation. Many new build-ings were built and theschool added new majors.With the introduction ofbaccalaureate degrees, theschool changed its name tothe Louisiana State NormalCollege.

Later, in recognition ofthe fact that the institutionwas no longer solely ateacher training school, itwas renamed NorthwesternState College of Louisianain 1944, and thenNorthwestern StateUniversity of Louisiana in

1970. Today, the schooloffers a wide variety ofdegrees and enrolls over10,000 students.

The district is comprisedof two building—WarrenEaston Hall and RussellHall—and three columns.The columns were once partof the Bullard Mansion,built in 1832 and demol-ished in 1904.

The Bullard Mansion wasthe first building at theState Normal School, andthe three standing columnsthat commemorate it havebeen adopted as the officialsymbol of NorthwesternState University.

Warren Easton Hall, builtin 1928, is a two-story brickbuilding with Georgian andJacobian Revival details. Italso contains an Englishbasement that greatlyexpands the amount ofusable space in the build-ing.

Russell Hall is a one-and-a-half story building of sim-ilar style. It was built in1938 and, like WarrenEaston, contains an English

basement. Two other buildings

Caldwell Hall and GuardiaHall, built in 1908 and 1913respectively, were destroyedby fire in the last half of the

20th-century. Prior totheir destruction, thesebuilding, along withWarren Easton Hall andRussell Hall, formed a quad-rangle of learning—and thearea is still referred to as

the “quad” today.The Normal Hill Historic

District is located on thecampus of NorthwesternState University inNatchitoches. WarrenEaston Hall, at 136 CaldwellDr., is currently an elemen-tary lab school.

Russell Hall, at 125Central Ave., now serves asthe home of the BusinessDepartment.

The quad is always opento the public.

According to availablerecords, the history of

Immaculate ConceptionChurch began in 1717, or

perhaps 1716, when theFranciscan, Fr. AntonioMargil de Jesus, walked the21 miles from the SpanishMission at Los Adaes to sayMass at the French militarypost in Natchitoches.Services were also held inthe home of LouisJuchereau de St. Denis,commandant of the post,and his wife, DonaManuela.

The present church wasbuilt in 1857; however, itwas not entirely completeduntil 1892 when BishopDurier added the dome onthe tower, constructed thepresent sanctuary and sac-risties, added the altar andtile floor. The church wasrestored and redecorated in1955-56 when the frontvestibule and entrance wereadded.

On the south corner ofthe church is a plaque com-

memorating the first publicreligious service held inNatchitoches.

The date is given as 1716;however, records now avail-able give 1717 as the date.

The Rt. Rev. Msgr. A.Piegay, Vicar General, andFr. A. Andries are buried infront of the church.

All fittings and furnish-ings, except the pews, wereimported from France: themain altar, the hand-paint-ed Stations of the Cross, theStatue of Blessed VirginMary over the main altar,the chandeliers and the lad-der located in the choir.

The spiral staircase lead-ing to the choir is unique inthat it has no center sup-port. The wooden BaptismalFont, beneath the staircase,was handcarved in France.

Bishop Augustin Martin,the first bishop of theNatchitoches Diocese and

his Vicar General PierreF.Dicharry, are buried inthe church near the sidealtars.

Across the street are theRectory and the OldSeminary built in 1855 tohouse and educate seminar-ians.

The Bishop MartinMuseum is now locatedthere and is the depositoryfor early records, datingfrom 1724, and for churchartifacts including a silverbell dated 1836.

Back of the Seminary onTrudeau Street is the bish-op’s residence erected byBishop Martin.

At one time a similar butlarger edifice was directlyacross from the residenceon the corner of Second andTrudeau streets, with awide brick walk betweenthe two.

The Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception

A combination of beauty & history


Do you feel lost? Are you

confused? Are you missing

something in your life? Call,

come or write to Mrs. Jane.

She will tell you your Past,

Present, and Future. She will

remove BAD LUCK, Reunite

you with your LOVED ONE,

and help you with DRUG

PROBLEMS...Call immediately!

318-357-9217 4364 Hwy. 3278, Natchitoches, LA 71457

MRS. JANE MRS. JANE Healer & Adviser Healer & Adviser

but don’t forget our ... Red Beans & Rice with Sausage Southern Fried Catfish Platters

and for dessert our Cane River Cream Pie

Open Mon-Sat 7am-3pm for Breakfast & Lunch

Open later on Saturdays for NSU and City Events Meat Pie Restaurant

A Natchitoches Tradition Come join us and choose from our unique menu featuring a blend of Soulful Louisiana Creole Flavors.

622 Second Street • Natchitoches, LA • 352-3353

We’re famous for our award winning MEAT PIES and CRAWFISH PIES

NSU is product of historic founding in 1884; The Hill remains

The Natchitoches meatpie is a regional dish whoseingredients include groundbeef, ground pork, onions,peppers, garlic, oil, and a pieshell.

Natchitoches meat piesare often fried in peanut oil

because of the oil’s highsmoking temperature.

A number of restaurantsin the historic district inNatchitoches serve meatpies, and frozen pies areavailable from grocers innorthern Louisiana.

It has a savory meat fillingin a crescent-shaped, flakywheat pastry turnover. It issimilar to a Spanish picadil-lo beef empanada. Varietiesare throughout the coloniesof the Spanish Empire.

This meat pie is not gener-ally available from otherethnic regions of Louisiana“The Picayune’s CreoleCook Book” published 1901by The Times Picayune ofNew Orleans contains noth-ing comparable toNatchitoches meat pies inits list of over a thousandrecipes.

Recently, Natchitochesmeat pies sold at food boothshave become popular at theNew Orleans Jazz &Heritage Festival.

The recipe has evolvedover the last 300 years.Ground pork or porksausage is now blended into

the ground beef for addi-tional flavor.

Onions, bell pepper andwhen used garlic and pars-ley provide aromatics.Ground black pepper andcayenne pepper are added toget attention without beinguncomfortable.

Flour is added to brownedmeat and vegetable mixtureto dry, thicken and looselybind the filling.

The meat filling can beused in other foods (e.g.tacos, tamales, enchiladas,stuffed bell peppers) but theturnover crust is a definingelement.

Traditional size is approx-imately 4 ounce (by weight)on 5”- 6” diameter pastrydough.

The filling should be madethe day before to allow fla-vors of the ingredients tomeld.

Filling, dough and toolsshould be chilled beforeassembly. Warm filling willcause the dough to disinte-grate.

In the first part of the 20thcentury, meat pies were soldfrom home kitchens or fromcarts by street vendors.

By 1967, Natchitochesmeat pies were produced incommercial kitchens. Now,they may be ordered online.This progression hasallowed more people to expe-rience the memorable meatpies and their fame contin-ues to grow.

The Meat Pie Festival,held in September, cele-brates the Natchitochesmeat pie.

The festival draws visitorsfrom around the globe tosample the tasty pies.

Available for free inFebruary through AppleiTunes, the ExploreLouisiana CrossroadsVisitor Guide Application(APP) will allow users totake advantage of theadvanced capabilities of theiPhone, iPad and iPodTouch user interface.

“The Explore LouisianaCrossroads APP will be aneasy-to-navigate tool forboth pre-trip planning andto get information whileonsite at a variety of recre-ational sites in the area,”said Brandi Bradford leadpark ranger with the U.S.Army Corps of Engineers.

“It is intended both for visi-tors to the Natchitochesarea, as well as local resi-dents who may want toexplore more of the his-toric, natural, and recre-ational treasures that theCrossroads offers.”

Features of the ExploreLouisiana Crossroads appli-cation include:

-Quick access and Googlemap locations for all recre-ation sites, historic sites,dining, shopping, lodging,camping, boating, fishingand other activities avail-able to visitors coming tothe La. Crossroads Region.

-Directions, details ofwhat to find at each site,hours of operation, fees andother important info to getvisitors to any site theywant to find.

-Historical and heritageinformation about one ofthe richest historic areas ofthe state.

-Auto and walking tourguides for the historic and

natural resource sites in thearea.

-Quick access toNorthwestern StateUniversity, the City of

Natchitoches along withsafety information, emer-gency contacts and more.

-Quick dial from youriPhone to contact all listingsand links to area Web sites.

-Links within each visi-tors’ guide to other informa-tion and interesting sitesyou may also want to seeduring your trip.

-Safety information forall types of recreation activ-ities you may want to tryduring your visit.

-Emergency contacts andother services that you mayhave need of during yourtrip, such as post offices,banks, hospitals and otherservices.

-History and significanceof the Natchitoches region

-Directions, details andGoogle map locations forarea sites

-Auto and walking tourideas

-Safety, service and emer-gency contact information

A consortium ofNatchitoches organizationsjoined together to providecontent for this APP. Projectpartners include:

-Natchitoches AreaConvention and VisitorsBureau

-City of Natchitoches -Association for

Preservation of HistoricNatchitoches

-Melrose Plantation-Cane River Waterway

Commission -Cane River Creole

National Historical Park -Cane River National

Heritage Area -Natchitoches Area

Chamber of Commerce -U.S. Army Corps of

Engineers The APP is powered by

Nomad Mobile Guides(TM).For more information

contact Bradford at 318-354-8770.

Travel Guide: We have an app for that


Meat Pie is tasty treat identified with Natchitoches

Meat pies are good eaten by themselves or with dirty rice.

Nobody knowsNatchitoches better!

Visit our website:www.collinsandstamey.com

Collins & StameyR E A L E S T A T E304 College Ave. • 357-12623 0 4 U n i v e r s i t y P a r k w a y • 3 5 7 - 1 2 6 2

• Recognized in 2007 as a Preserve America Presidential Award Winner

• Listed as one of the Ten Bargain Retirement Spots by U S News & World Report

• Named as a 2006 Great American Main Street Award Winner by the National Trust for Historic Preservation

• N amed as one of the 2005 Dozen Distinctive Destination in the United States by the National Trust for Historic Preservation

www.natchitochesla.gov


Formerly the resi-dence for 10N o r t h w e s t e r n

presidents, theOld President’sCottage was reno-

vated for theA l u m n iCenter in 1984.Built in 1927 ofF r e n c hN o r m a n d yarchitecture,the buildinghas been desig-nated a nation-al landmark.

The historical signifi-cance of Cane RiverCountry is undisput-ed. Because of thisheritage, the federalgovernment chose

Natchitoches as thesite for the NationalCenter forP r e s e r v a t i o nTechnology andTraining. The OldW o m e n ’ sGymnasium, NelsonHall, has beenrestored for the per-manent headquartersof the center.

Northwestern State hasbeen dedicated to prepar-

ing teachers for careers ineducation since its found-ing in 1884. One symbol ofthat legacy is the one-roomschoolhouse, which wasthe St. Nichols School,which was established insouth Natchitoches Parishin 1906. The school was inuse until 1924 and wasdonated to NSU in 1981.

The archives ofWatson Libraryand theW i l l i a m s o nMuseum inKyser Hall exhib-

it historical hold-ings from thelocal and region-al culture.C o n t r i bu t i o n sfrom citizens andhistorians repre-sent archaeologi-cal resources ofIndian and ante-bellum influ-ences.

NSU Demonsplay SouthlandConference foot-ball at TurpinStadium.

The Wellness,R e c r e a t i o nand ActivityCenter is locat-ed in the heartof theNorthwester nState campusand providesmore than10,000 square feet ofspace with weightand cardio machines,basketball courts,

racquetball courts, anarea for aerobics, ajogging track andmore.

Northwestern StateUniversity has beenan important part ofthe Natchitoches com-munity since it wasestablished in 1884.Three columns of theBullard Mansion thatoriginally stood on thegrounds, serve as theunofficial symbol of theuniversity.

Northwestern’s students and facultyshare diverse talents in drama andart with the community.

The Hanchey Gallery oftenexhibits the best works of itsfaculty and students.

Northwestern State University Tour

Chaplin Lake furtherenhances the historiccampus that servesmore than 9,000 stu-dents.

The A.A. Fredericks Fine Arts Center regularly featuresperformances by the Natchitoches/NorthwesternSymphony Orchestra and theatre department.


MELROSE PLANTATION, 1796, is aNational Historic Landmark. Thecomplex includes the Big House,African and Yucca houses, weavingcabin and original home of primitivefolk artist Clementine Hunter. Theplantation is rich in history. and cul-ture that began with Marie ThereseCoincoin, an owner who was a freedwoman of color. The cultural high-

lights of the site were furthered during the Henry years as Miss Cammieprovided living quarters for writers. Clementine Hunter, renowned folkartist, painted here while employed as a domestic servant. Her muralsadorn the walls of the African House and her work is displayed in a gallerywithin the Big House. Melrose serves as the annual location for the MelroseArts and Crafts Festival in July. Tours are available daily.

OAKLAWNPLANTATION ,1830, is therestored home of“Steel Magnolias”author RobertHarling. Thisbousillage, three-story structuredisplays Creolearchitecture common to Cane River Country. The 680-foot oak avenue is the third longest in the state.

CHEROKEE PLANTATION, 1839, is list-ed on the National Register of HistoricPlaces and was the site of the famousBossier-Gaiennie duel, that was fought onthe savannah at the rear of Cherokee.This restored raised cottage is an impor-tant Creole structure and is often featuredduring the annual NatchitochesPilgrimage in February.

BEAU FORTP L A N TAT I O N ,1790, was built onthe former site ofFort Charles. It isan early Creole-style home and fea-tures an 84-footgallery and coveredrear patio. Many

special occasions are conducted at Beau Fort.

OAKLAND PLANTATION, 1821, now partof the Cane River Creole National HistoricPark contains the finest examples ofCreole architecture. The first cotton in thestate was planted on this plantation.

THE BADIN-ROQUE HOUSE isone of five structures of its typeremaining in the United Statesand the only one of its kind inLouisiana. Badin-Roque is listedon the National Register for his-toric places and has been nomi-nated for National Landmarkstatus. It is owned and main-tained by the St. AugustineHistorical Society.

THE ST. AUGUSTINECATHOLIC CHURCH is locatedat Isle Brevelle and was foundedand built by Augustine Metoyerand his brother Louis Metoyer in1803. St. Augustine Church is thefirst church in America estab-lished and maintained by free peo-ple of color. In 1829, when it wasblessed as a mission, it was giventhe name St. Augustine in honor

of St. Augustine. It was blessed as a church parish in 1856,and at that time, had four missions attached to it: St. Anns onOld River, St. Joseph at Bayou Derbonne, St. Anns, SpanishLake and St. Charles, Bermuda. The church was used as afilm site for Steel Magnolias.

MAGNOLIA PLANTATION,1830s, is one of only twoNational Bicentennial Farmswest of the Mississippi. Exceptfor the Big House, the complexis now part of the Cane RiverCreole National Historic Park.The original walls and founda-tion were reused after beingburned by General Banks in

1864. The two and one-half story structure has 27 rooms, including aCatholic chapel. The only cotton press still in its original location ishere along with the only row of brick slave quarters still standing inLouisiana. The plantation is closed to the public.

AAuuttoo TToouurr OOff CCaannee RRiivveerrAuto Tour of the

Cane River


The AmericanCemetery represents themany cultures and coun-tries that influenced theoldest settlement in theLouisiana Purchase. Thesite is the original loca-tion of Fort St. JeanBaptiste.

Cane Country cavalierLouis Juchereau De St.Denis foundedNatchitoches in 1714.Fort St. Jean Baptistewas the French outposthe commanded. A replicaof the fort was built andpresents frequent livinghistory programs.

Several organizations that con-tribute to civic and preservationinterests in Natchitoches haverestored landmarks for use asheadquarters. The Prudhomme-Rouquier House was restored bythe Service League ofNatchitoches.

FRONT STREET of Natchitoches boasts historic sites that earnedthe oldest settlement in the Louisiana Purchase National HistoricLandmark designation. Santa, and the Christmas Belles as helpers,greet guests during the holi-day season at the Santa ClausHouse on the riverbank. TheRoque House, also along theriverbank, was relocated to itspresent location. An exampleof Creole architecture, theRoque House is constructed ofbousillage, a mixture ofSpanish moss, deer hair andmud.

Bells toll ante-bellum historiessurrounding thetwo landmarkchurches ofI m m a c u l a t eC o n c e p t i o nC a t h o l i cChurch, left,and TrinityE p i s c o p a lChurch, below.

The Natchitoches Parish OldParish Courthouse is home to agenealogical library and is a

courthousewith nocourtroom.It is onSecond Streetacross thestreet fromChurch of theImmaculateConception.

Walking Tour of the Historic District

1. Tourism Information Center2. Bust of St. Denis3. Sompayrac Building4. Unter House5. Chez des Amís6. Washington Square7. Breazeale House8. Tauzin House9. Fitzhugh House10. Roque House11. Kaffie-Frederick Store12. Ducournau Square Townhouse13. Blanchard Building14. Prudhomme Building15. St. Denis Tomb Plaque16. Nakatosh Hotel

17. Old Opera House18. DeBlieux Building19. Kaffie House20. Prudhomme-Roquier House21. Tante Huppe House22. Chamard House23. Metoyer Townhouse24. Levy-East House25. Bayou Amulet26. Rusca House

27. Laureate House28. Steel Magnolias House29. Metoyer-Winbarg House30. Lemee House31. Steel Magnolias House32. Queen Anne House33. Green Gables34. Plauche House35. Steamboat House36. Nelken House37. William and Mary Ackel House

38. Fort St. Jean Baptiste39. American Cemetery40. Dismukes House41. Judge Porter House42. Fleur de Lis House43. Chaplin House44. First Methodist Church45. First Baptist Church

46. Trinity Episcopal Church47. Cunningham Law Office/

Chamber of Commerce48. Bishop Martin’s Residence49. Catholic Rectory50. Church of the Immaculate

Conception51. Old Courthouse Museum

53. New Courthouse54. Old Masonic Lodge55. Exchange Bank56. H.A. Cook Building57. Fort Claiborne Guest House58. Wells Home59. Rose Lawn House60. Wheelwright Inn61. The Blessed House

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The Cunningham Law Office, left, serves as headquarters for theNatchitoches Historic Foundation and is open daily providingtourism information. The Lemee House is one of several proper-ties maintained by the Association for the Preservation of HistoricNatchitoches.


Sally Field por-trayed M’LynnEatenton, thewarm-hearted butiron-willed motherof a young bride.

Natchitoches residents were extras, includingthe late Norm Fletcher and Lori Tate. Fletcherand Tate played the bridegroom’s parents.

Robert Harling,author of“ S t e e lM a g n o l i a s , ”played the min-ister who mar-ried Shelby andJ a c k s o nLatcherie.

Drum Eatenton(Tom Skerritt)shoots at thebirds prior to thewedding recep-tion for hisdaughter, Shelby(Julia Roberts).

Truvy’s Beauty Shop was transformedinto a Christmas wonderland as the citycelebrated its annual Christmas Festival.D o l l yP a r t o n ’ squick wita n dS o u t h e r ncharm shinein her role asTruvy Jones.

Robert Harling,author of “SteelM a g n o l i a s , ”received a staron the St. DenisWalk of Honor.Each of thestars in the fea-ture filmreceived a star.Conferring theaward wasr e n o w n e dsportsman andNatchitoches resident GritsGresham.Much of thestory came from real life, based on the sacri-fices of Harling’s sister, Susan, and mother,Margaret, in his hometown of Natchitoches.

The Steel Magnolias House on JeffersonStreet was used during filming as thehome for M’Lynn and Drum Eatenton. Itis now a bed and breakfast inn.

‘Steel Magnolias’ Tour

“Steel Magnolias” stars, from left, JuliaRoberts, Olympia Dukakis, Dolly Parton,Shirley MacLaine, Sally Field and DarylHannah, portrayed six remarkable friends inthe southern town of Chinquapin.

The actresses commented onthe strength of the charactersand the sense of communitythat drew them to their parts.Meeting many of the real-lifecounterparts of their charac-ters also contributed to theiracclaimed performances.

Produced by Ray Stark, “Steel Magnolias”was directed by Herbert Ross. VictoriaWhite was the executive producer andAndrew Stone was the associate producer.

1. St. Augustine Catholic Church, La. Hwy. 493 atMelrose, Shelby’s wedding.

2.Northwestern State University Field House, postgame interviews.

3.American Cemetery on Second Street betweenDemeziere and the railroad tracks, Shelby’s funeral.

4. Lemee House, 310 Rue Jefferson, Ouiser’s house.

5.Steel Magnolia House, 320 Jefferson, Eatenton house.

6. Trinity Episcopal Church, 533 Second St., Truvy’s church.

7. Private home, 301 Rue Touline, Mrs. Robeline’s boardinghouse.

8. Chaplin House, 434 Second St., Aunt Fern’s house.

9. Walk of Honor, corner of Second Street and Rue St. Denis.

10. Blanchard Building, 700 block of Front Street, adjacent toDucournau Square, Truvy’s No. 2.

11. Riverfront behind Roque House, 800 block of WashingtonStreet, Easter egg hunt.

12. Private home, 515 St. Maurice Lane, Annelle and Sammy’shome.

13. Private home, 453 Henry Blvd., Truvy’s house.

14. Brookshire’s, Dixie Plaza Shopping Center, 318 Dixie Plazaon Keyser Avenue, shopping with Clairee and Ouiser.

15. Natchitoches Parish Hospital, 501 Keyser Ave., baby’s birth.

16. Tauzin Plantation Home, 1950 Williams Ave., Clairee’shome.

17. Odalie Lambre-Gwinn House, 1972 Williams Ave., Shelbyand Jackson’s house.

The Adai are NativeAmerican people who, atthe time of first contactwith Europeans, inhabitedan area from the Red Riverwestward into Texas.

At that time, the Adaiwere hunters, fishermenand farmers, cultivating avariety of fruits and veg-etables.

Their settlements con-sisted of family farms,usually spread out alongrivers and streams.

As traders, they wereideally situated to becomea conduit for trade betweenthe Plains Indians west ofthe Sabine River and thetribes of the Southeast.

When horses and cattle,first introduced by theSpanish, ran wild acrossthe plains of Texas, theAdai became excellenthorsemen and some of theregion’s finest cowboys,rounding up mustangs andwild cattle for trade, thusenhancing their com-merce.

With horses, they werealso able to hunt buffalofurther from home.

When the French found-ed Natchitoches in 1714,they found the Adai veryadept at trade and withtheir assistance, set uptrading partnerships withtribes beyond the Sabine.

To counter French influ-ence, the Spanish built themission San Miguel de losAdaes near the principalAdais village in 1717.

The Adai also quicklybecame a political bufferbetween the French andSpanish.

When war broke outbetween Spain and France,the mission was destroyed.But the Spanish returnedin 1721, rebuilding the mis-sion and building a fort,Presidio Nuestra Senorade los Adaes, which servedas the capitol of Texas for

almost 50 years.Some of the Adai held

individual land grantsfrom the Spanish govern-ment for thousands ofacres in Texas andLouisiana and becamesome of the first ranchersand cowboys in the region.

The benefits ofEuropeans brought to theAdai came with a heavyprice. Diseases unknownbefore European contactreduced the native popula-tion by perhaps as much as80 percent.

By the early 19th centu-ry, pressures from theSpanish and French gov-ernments made it more dif-ficult to maintain tradi-tional tribal lifestyles.

The declining impor-tance of the Adai as a polit-ical buffer after 1773 hadsuch a marked effect thatfew Adai still lived in a tra-ditional lifestyle by thetime the Americansacquired Louisiana.

They dressed inEuropean styles, spoke

French and Spanish inaddition to their own lan-guage and many were bap-tized Christians.

When controversybetween Spain and theUnited States over thewestern boundary ofLouisiana was settled andcontrol of the NeutralStrip passed to theAmerican governmentpassed to the Americangovernment, the Adai peo-ple were recognized asestablished citizens of thearea through individualland titles.

Many of these deeds hadbeen granted by theSpanish government, andwere later upheld by theUnited States. Withintheir own community, theymaintained many of thetraditions of their ances-tors, but to the Americans,they posed no threat asIndian people and thuswere not affected when thelast of the tribes weremoved west.

When Europeans first

came to the area, the prin-cipal Adai village waslocated on a small creeknear what is now Robeline.

At this political and cer-emonial center, the Adaipracticed traditional

dances, music, crafts, sto-ries and beliefs that hadbeen handed down throughthe generations.

Chief Rufus Davis, above ,leads the Caddo AdaiNation.

Adai Native Americans encountered Europeans near Red RiverMARCH 2014 HISTORIC NATCHITOCHES

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Melrose Plantation Complex (Nine Buildings)

Open Tuesday - Sunday 10 am - 5 pm Tours start at 10:15 am

and continueevery hour after Groups by Appointment

318-379-0055 16 Miles South Of Natchitoches

In Cane River Country

Melrose is one of theunique plantations of theold South, its career mea-sured, not by years, but bygenerations. Its story willendure, for it is recorded notonly in fiction and firesidelegend, but on the indeliblepages of history.

The Association for thePreservation of HistoricNatchitoches has undertak-en the careful restoration ofthe eight structures compos-ing the Melrose complex.

In 1971, in the interest ofmaintaining Melrose as amonument to Louisiana his-tory, Southdown Land Co.,which had acquired theplantation, conveyed the six-acre site and complex ofbuildings to the Association.In 1974, the Cane River plan-tation was declared aNational HistoricLandmark.

The story of romanticMelrose Plantation beginswith the legend of MarieTherese Coincoin, who wasborn in 1742, a slave in thehousehold of LouisJuchereau de St. Denis, thefirst commandant of thepost at Natchitoches.

Marie Therese becamethe matriarch of a family of14 children—four black and10 of Franco-African blood—and the founder of a uniquecolony of people.

Along with several of herchildren, she was sold toThomas Pierre Metoyer, wholater freed her and eventual-ly all her Metoyer children.Between 1794 and 1803, she

and her sons received a num-ber of land grants, the landsforming Melrose Plantationbeing recorded in the nameof her son Louis.

Descendants of theMetoyers live along the rivertoday, a people proud of theirheritage and culture.

It was at Melrose that theMetoyers built the YuccaHouse, the African Houseand other structures. It musthave been a tremendousundertaking for them toclear the land, build roadsand fences and raise indigo,tobacco, cotton and othercrops to achieve a successfulplantation operation.

Yucca (c.1796), the origi-nal main house at Melrose,incorporated local materialsexclusively-heavy, hand-hewn cypress beams,uprights and sleepers, andwalls made of mud from theriver bottoms, mixed withdeer hair and Spanish moss.

The African House(c.1800), a strange lookingconstruction reminiscent ofthe straw-thatched hutsfound in the Congo, wasbuilt as a combination store-house and jail for rebelliousslaves.

The Big House was con-structed on the Melrosegrounds about 1833, a

Louisiana-type plantationhome, the lower floor ofbrick, the upper story ofwood. Twin hexagonalgarçonnieres and a kitchenwing were added later by theHenry family.

In the economic upheavalof the 1840s, the plantationpassed to white ownership. Itwas bought by Hypolite andHenry Hertzog, who, in turn,lost it in the aftermath of theCivil War. In 1884, the planta-tion was acquired by JosephHenry.

At the turn of the century,Melrose became the home ofJohn Hampton and CammieGarrett Henry, the latter

known affectionately as“Miss Cammie” to her CaneRiver friends. In the succeed-ing years Miss Cammie’spatronage of the arts andpreservation of local arti-facts made Melrose justlyfamous. Mrs. Henry replant-ed and extended the planta-tion gardens, rescued thecolonial buildings, revivedlocal handicrafts and accu-mulated her famous libraryof Louisiana books andmaterials.

Artists and writers wereinvited by Mrs. Henry to stayas long as they wished, aslong as they were workingon some creative project.Among the many who visit-ed and worked at Melrosewere Erskine Caldwell,Alexander Woollcott,Alberta Kinsey, CarolineDormon, Rose Franken,William Spratling,

Gwen Bristow, RossPhares and Ruth Cross. Onewarmly remembered per-sonality who wrote for yearsat Melrose was Lyle Saxon,whose “Children ofStrangers” portrays theCane River area.

Melrose is one of theattractions on the annualTour of Historic Homes thesecond weekend inNovember.


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150 Hayes Avenue • Natchitoches, LA

With vibrant exhibitshoused in a strikingexample of contempo-rary architecture, theLouisiana StateMuseum’s NorthwestLouisiana HistoryMuseum in Natchitochesbrings 3,000 years of his-tory forward to theunique cultural tradi-tions that survive—andthrive—in the regiontoday.

Encompassing flat, fer-tile river valleys andpine-forested uplands,northwest Louisiana hasbeen a cultural cross-roads since pre-Columbian times. Fromtheir homelands alongthe Red River, CaddoIndians traded withtribes as far away asMexico and the GreatPlains and, beginning inthe 1600s, with Spanishand French explorers.

A distinctive Creoleculture developed inNatchitoches, founded in1713 as the first perma-nent European settle-ment in Louisiana. Freeand enslaved Africansleft a strong imprint onthe region’s architec-ture, language and art.Meanwhile, traditionalSouthern folkwaysevolved in small commu-nities living close to theland and coping with theboom-or-bust cycles ofthe farming, timber andpetroleum industries.

“This museum tellsthe story of how diversepopulations cametogether to create a richand vital regional cul-ture,” Louisiana StateMuseum director MarkTullos said. “It also cele-brates the life stories ofartists, writers, entre-preneurs, human rightsleaders and others whoembody the region’sresourceful and resilientspirit.”

The Great Womenexhibit, for example,

profiles novelist KateChopin, conservationistCarrie Dorman, arts andliterature patronCammie Henry andpainter ClementineHunter, who is also rep-resented by 12 originalworks of art.

Visitors will find a fas-cinating array of arti-facts, paintings, pho-tographs, maps, books,furniture, householdgoods, farm implements,textiles, weapons andother materials—manyloaned by local collec-tions. Specific artifactsinclude 18th centuryreligious medals, forged-iron equestrian gearfrom Los Adaes—a for-mer capital of Texas,Spanish mission andtrading post—and a vin-tage gasoline pump,advertising signs andconsumer products from

the typical early 20thcentury plantation store.And to represent north-west Louisiana’s earliestcivilization, the StateMuseum commissionedthe noted contemporaryCaddo potter JeraldineRedcorn to create threehand-coiled, wood-firedclay vessels in the archa-ic “Natchitochesengraved” style.

The NorthwestLouisiana HistoryMuseum opens July 2, aspart of a $23-million,27,000-square-foot muse-um complex shared withthe Louisiana SportsHall of Fame. Designedby Trahan Architects ofNew Orleans, the build-ing evokes the region’sagricultural heritagewith sinuous moldedstone interiors suggest-ing slow-moving riversand linear earth-colored

exterior claddinginspired by plowedfields.

The history museumhas 3,500 square feet ofexhibits arranged inseven major themes.Living Traditions, forexample, explores pre-sent-day handcrafts, cui-sine, social customs andflourishing subculturessuch as the Cane RiverCreole community ofIsle Brevelle.

Eye-popping graphicsand a seven-minutevideo by documentaryfilmmakers MichelleBenoit and Glen Pitreenhance the visitor expe-rience.

Located at 800 FrontSt., the museum is open10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.Tuesdays throughSaturdays, and 1 p.m. to 5p.m. Sundays.Admission is $5 for

adults; $4 for students,seniors and active-dutymilitary; and free forchildren 12 and younger.

The Natchitochesproperty is the newestcultural attraction in theLouisiana State Museumsystem, which wasfounded in 1906 with amission to collect, pre-serve, interpret and pre-sent the state’s rich his-tory and cultural andartistic achievements.

The Louisiana StateMuseum systemincludes historic proper-ties in New Orleans—including the Cabildo,Presbytere, Old U.S.Mint, Madame John’sLegacy and 1850 Housemuseum—as well asmuseums in BatonRouge, Thibodaux andPatterson.

-LouisianaTravel.com-

New History Museum highlights Creole rural life

A vintage gasoline pump, advertising signs and consumer products from the typical early 20th century plantation store andoriginal paintings by folk artist Clementine Hunter illustrate rural life in northwest Louisiana.



A collection of baseballssigned by slugger Mel Ott,Archie Manning’s No. 8New Orleans Saints jerseyand a souped-up FordThunderbird that becamethe fastest car in the worldin 1963 are just a few of theartifacts that make theLouisiana Sports Hall ofFame and Museum inNatchitoches an up-close,personal and unforgettablefan experience.

Housed in a dazzling $23million museum buildingdeveloped and operated bythe Louisiana StateMuseum system in part-nership with the LouisianaSports Writers Associationand the city ofNatchitoches, theLouisiana Sports Hall of

Fame Museum honors theachievements of the state’sgreatest athletes.

Founded in 1959, butlacking a permanent homefor its collection of por-traits and memorabiliauntil now, the Hall hasmore than 300 men andwomen on its roster. Somecarry famous names suchas Vida Blue, EddieDelahoussaye, “PistolPete” Maravich, WillisReed and Joyce Walker, butothers are relativelyunknown today. NewOrleans-born Audrey“Mickey” Patterson, forexample, was the firstAfrican-American womanto win an Olympic medal.Visitors will see the TeamUSA jersey she wore in a

200-meter dash that wonher the bronze medal at the1948 games in London.

“The main goal indesigning exhibits andselecting artifacts was toinspire people, especiallyyoung people, to thinkabout greatness,”Louisiana State Museumdirector Mark Tullos said.“Every object here tells astory. Seen together, theycreate a visitor experiencethat we hope is both uplift-ing as well as entertain-ing.”

Indeed, the museum iscrammed with fun stuff tolook at. Items on displayinclude vintage varsity let-ter sweaters, antique duckand turkey calls, a blackand gold 1967 Saints cheer-

leader’s outfit, a collectionof whistles fromLouisiana’s top highschool sports coaches,hand-carved water skisbelieved to be the first toskim across Cane RiverLake and famed outdoors-man Grits Gresham’s fieldtypewriter on which hetapped out features for thenational magazines SportsAfield and Gentlemen’sQuarterly. The typewriteris among many artifactsdonated by his family forthe Grits and MaryGresham exhibit inSportsman’s Paradise, alarge gallery focused onhunting and fishing.

Two of the most spectac-ular objects on display arethe Louisiana GolfAssociation’s amateurchampionship trophy, athree-foot-high sterling sil-ver replica of theLouisiana State Capitolcommissioned in 1934, andL.W. “Knot” Farrington’sstreamlined and modifiedFord Thunderbird whichhe drove to a world speedrecord of 241.78 mph atBonneville Salt Flats inUtah in 1963. A self-taughtmechanic, Farringtonnamed his dream car“Hel’s Angel” after his wifeHelen. Now 93, Farringtonkept the car in the garageof his Metairie home until2011 when he loaned it tothe Museum for display.

Coverage of profession-al and college teamsports—football, baseballand basketball—is high-lighted with iconic uni-forms, autographed gameballs, photographs andinteractive media captur-ing historic games andmajor players. In GreatMoments, a seven-minutevideo produced by film-makers Michelle Benoitand Glen Pitre, visitors canrelive the glory of BillyCannon’s tackle-breakingpunt return against OleMiss in 1959, WarrenMorris’ game-winninghome run for LSU in the1996 College World Seriesand Kim Mulkey’s NCAAchampionship basketballgames as a Louisiana Tech

Lady Techster and later ashead coach for BaylorUniversity.

Touch-screen technolo-gy delivers even moresports greatness in theimpressive Hall of Famegalleries near the mainentrance. Visitors can callup life stories, career sta-tistics and even the mostmemorable quotes of everyHall of Famer past and pre-sent. The newest membersare also recognized withhand-painted portraits,including basketball greatShaquille O’Neal, tennisstar Chanda Rubin andnine other 2013 inductees.

The Hall opens to thepublic July 2 in a 27,000-square-foot buildingshared with the NorthwestLouisiana HistoryMuseum. Designed byTrahan Architects of NewOrleans, the buildingevokes the region’s agri-cultural heritage with sin-uous molded stone interi-ors suggesting slow-mov-ing rivers and linear earth-colored exterior claddinginspired by plowedfields.

Located at 800 Front St.,the museum is open 10 a.m.to 4:30 p.m. Tuesdaysthrough Saturdays and 1p.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays.Admission is $5 for adults;$4 for students, seniors andactive-duty military; andfree for children 12 andyounger.

The Natchitoches prop-erty is the newest culturalattraction in the LouisianaState Museum system,which was founded in 1906with a mission to collect,preserve, interpret andpresent the state’s rich his-tory and cultural and artis-tic achievements.

The Louisiana StateMuseum system includeshistoric properties in NewOrleans—including theCabildo, Presbytere, OldU.S. Mint, Madame John’sLegacy and 1850 HouseMuseum—as well as muse-ums in Baton Rouge,Thibodaux and Patterson.

—www.LouisianaTravel.com

Designed by Trahan Architects of New Orleans, the new 27,500 square foot museumcomplex evokes the region’s heritage with linear earth-colored exterior claddinginspired by plowed fields sinuous molded stone interiors suggesting slow-movingrivers. Credit: Photo courtesy of Trahan Architects.

Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame offersunforgettable sports history experience

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The J. Bennett JohnstonWaterway Grand EcoreVisitor Center is open. Thecenter offers extraordinaryviews of Red River from abluff high above the water.The grounds are host towildlife, cultural and histor-ical displays of the area andwaterway exploration andnavigation information. Awalking trail is available forvisitors to get a first-handglance at Civil Warentrenchments.The 4,800 square foot cen-ter is situated at the highestpoint of the Grand Ecorebluffs overlooking Red River.It includes a reception area,exhibition hall, office andwork room along withrestrooms, storage andmechanical/electrical sys-tems. Visitors will learn about

the waterway and the role ofthe Corps of Engineers inthe development, preserva-tion and enhancement ofwater resources in theregion.Nine interior exhibitscover the history, presentand future of the waterway.The theme is “Navigation onthe Red River: A Study InTime.” Of particular interest isan extensive exhibit ofinformation planned onCivil War activities on theRed River with ties to theCivil War features on thesite. A Union fort was situ-ated on the bluff that includ-ed several large gun place-ments. These emplacementsand trench work are still vis-ible. A pathway takes visi-tors to the emplacementswhere interpretive signs

and benches are located.The Visitor’s Center islocated off La. Hwy. 6 at 106Tauzin Island Road, justwest of the Grand Ecore

Bridge. A 600-foot accessroad passes through acypress swamp and climbsthe hill for a view of theriver. For more informa-

tion, call 354-8770.Is is open from 10 a.m. - 4p.m. Thursday, throughSunday


Along the banks of pic-turesque Cane River is anational park that preservessignificant pieces ofAmerican history. CaneRiver Creole NationalHistorical Park includesOakland Plantation and theoutbuildings at MagnoliaPlantation. MagnoliaPlantation is privatelyowned.

The park's mission is topreserve the resources andcultural landscapes of theCane River area and toenhance the understandingof its peoples and traditions.

Park rangers at the twosites will help visitorsexplore the French andSpanish colony ofLouisiana, and what thatmeant to the origins of thecotton plantations alongCane River. Visitors willgain a greater understand-ing of Louisiana's planta-tion economy and its laborpractices of slavery andlater tenancy, and get a peekinto the lives of the peoplewho lived on the planta-tions.

Visitors can learn aboutthe families, both ownersand enslaved, who built theplantations, whose descen-dants stayed for many gener-ations and may live in theCane River area today.

Guests can find out why aplantation is more than justa "Big House" and learnabout the historic and con-temporary definitions of theword "Creole." Those inter-ested can study the vernacu-lar architecture of the park's45 historic buildings and getideas about how they adapt-ed to Louisiana's climate.

Oakland Plantation con-ducts tours seven days aweek at 1 p.m. MagnoliaPlantation is open forground tours Saturday andSunday at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.

To reach OaklandPlantation fromNatchitoches, take Hwy. 1south to the village ofNatchez and turn left at theflashing yellow light on toHwy. 119. Follow Hwy. 119and turn right at the stopsign on to Hwy. 494.Continue approximately 4miles to Oakland Plantationon the right-hand side of theroad.

From Interstate 49, takeexit 127, the Flora/Cypressexit. Head east towardsCypress on La. 120. Crossover La. Hwy. 1 and continuefor approximately 4 miles onHwy. 494. OaklandPlantation will be on the left.

For more information, con-tact Oakland Plantation at(318) 356-8441.

Cane River Creole: A National Park just down the road

Visitors’ center offers grand view of Red River

5335 Hwy. 6 West Natchitoches, LA 71457

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The commandant’s quar-ters are foggy with smokethat trails from the fire-place.

Next door, well-wornleather shoes wait next to asoldier’s bed and rumpledbedcovers in another belie astraw mattress beneath. Ifthis place looks as thoughthe garrison has juststepped out, then the staff atFort St. Jean Baptiste have

succeeded.Named for a French

patron saint, the fort’s origi-nal location is unknown,though it is believed to havestood where the OldAmerican Cemetery istoday.

The fort that visitors tourtoday is a reconstructionbased on historical records.

Though it’s hard for visi-tors to believe, nothinginside its walls is a genuineartifact from the 18th centu-ry--except, perhaps, theslowly weathering mud thatis mixed with moss andgrasses to seal the walls(what the French called“bousillage”).

But the fort is not meantto be a museum of 18th cen-tury treasures. The goal ofthis State Historic Site is tointeract with visitors, let-ting them experience theculture of everyday life.

“We are moving towardsliving history,” says

Interpretive Ranger DarrenVermillion. “We keep firesgoing in the houses, bakebread… and basically try tomake the fort look alive.”

Vermillion says that partof their goal is to debunkthe stereotypes associatedwith the oldest town in theLouisiana Territory.

“Natchitoches was notthe back woods in the1770s,” he explains. “It was abooming community.”

The French garrison sta-tioned at Fort St. JeanBaptiste had a double pur-pose: keeping a close eye onthe Spanish at Los Adaes tothe west and being a centerfor trade. The later boostedthe economy of the Frenchcolonists and became themain business of the garri-son. Good relations with theNative American tribes alsoencouraged the soldiers toassimilate their clothingstyles and habits.

“The soldiers adapted to

Louisiana woods,” saysVermillion. “They adaptedto Native American dressand wore their style cloth-ing, such as leggings.”

Vermillion and the rest ofthe staff authenticate theircostumes further by skin-ning, tanning and makingtheir own deer skin cover-

ings. Fort St. Jean Baptiste is

open daily, except holidays,from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Formore information or tomake group reservations,contact the site at 318-357-3101.

State Historic Site moves toward living history demonstrations

Step back in time at Fort St. Jean Baptiste HISTORIC NATCHITOCHES MARCH 2014

1000 University Parkway, Natchitoches, LA

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• FREE In Room Coffee Maker & Hair Dryer • FREE In Room Microwave & Refrigerator • Outdoor Swimming Pool • Close to Downtown Historic District

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N EWLY R ENOVATED ! 318-352-4426

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