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Historic
Natchitoches
Natchitoches has been
Traces of each era of
Natchitoches’ 300 years are
reflected in the 33-block
National Historic Landmark
District. Giving testament to
Natchitoches’ unique
intersection of cultures are
numerous architectural styles,
new and long-standing
businesses, surrounding
stately homes, prominently
placed churches and a historic
cemetery where many early
leaders rest.
welcoming visitors to the heart of the Cane
River region for over three hundred years. As
the oldest permanent settlement in the
Louisiana Purchase, its history is also a story of
the development of our nation, of the
challenges and successes of democracy, and of
ever evolving American values. A historic
downtown and friendly citizens are the setting
for your visit. Nationally recognized as a
Preserve America Community, a Distinctive
Destination, and a Great American Main Street,
Natchitoches is a genuine heritage destination.
1
Historic Front Street
1 Roque House
2
Historic Cane River
2 Bust of St. Denis
6
17 Lemee House
33 Northwestern State University
10 Nakatosh Hotel
18 Fort St. Jean Baptiste
The Red River Campaign
4
Legacy of Catholicism
5
The American Transition
6
The American Cemetery
5 Kaffie-Frederick Hardware
3 Sompayrac Building
11 DeBlieux Building
4 Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and
34 National Center for Preservation
26 Old Courthouse
State Historic Site
19 American Cemetery
Technology and Training (NCPTT)
27 Natchitoches Parish Courthouse
Science, and the Arts
12 Location of 1866 Freedmen’s
20 First United Methodist Church
28 Old Masonic Lodge
13 Prudhomme-Rouquier House
21 First Baptist Church
29 Landmarks in Time Exhibit
Trails
6 Ducournau Square
14 Tante Huppé House
22 Trinity Episcopal Church
30 Texas and Pacific Railway Depot
Cane River National
Heritage Trail
7 Blanchard Building
15 Bayou Amulet
23 Bishop Martin Museum
31 Roselawn
8 Prudhomme Building
16 Taylor House / Steel Magnolia House
24 Catholic Rectory
32 Tauzin-Wells Home
Northwest Louisiana History Museum
Historic District Trail
A D E S T I N AT I O N
35 Louisiana School for Math,
Bureau Office
36 Natchitoches National Fish Hatchery
Since 1714
37 Grand Ecore Visitor Center
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
30
Business
Sixth Street
Street
Fifth Street
Church Street
Fourth Street
Fourth Street
6
emezie
?
Visitor
Center
17
Rue J
Rue Amulet
Rue Pine
ey
18
14
15
16
13
Rue J
son
4
12
effers
effer
26
22
24
23
11
on
25
P
Arts Center
28
10
3
South to
P
City Hall
Church Street
Fort St. Jean Baptiste
State Historic Site
Rue Nelken
21
Rue Trudeau
P
20
Rue Touline
Natchitoches Convention and Visitors Bureau
Rue Sid
n
F OR VISITOR INFORMATION:
Events
Center
Central
Fire
Station
Library
Rue Percy
P
5
8 7
9
Historic Front St.
29
Utility Service
Servic Center
Second Street
6
1
P
5 ?
4
3
RRue Washington
2
Rue Beau Port
1
P
P
Cane River National Heritage Area Office
C A N E
Keyser Ave. Bridge
1115 Washington Street
Natchitoches, LA 71457
R I V E R
Cover Art courtesy ©Cane River Art Corporation features renowned folk
artist Clementine Hunter’s illustration of Zinnias. Hunter used Zinnias,
her favorite flower in many of her paintings of life on Cane River.
Fleur de Lis Stage
L A K E
1
2
Church Street Bridge
Williams Ave.
ce Ln.
Dr.
Street
Keyser Ave.
31
St. Mauri
Adelaide
t
Sirod Stree
Whitfield
South to Cane River
Plantations and
Historic Sites
Business
32
St. Clair Ave.
494
Stephens Ave.
1
Henry Ave.
South to
National Fish Hatchery
and Alexandria
Carver Ave.
National Fish Hatchery
location is 1 mile south
Keegan Dr.
36
1
6
37
North to
Grand Ecore
and Clarence
Cover image ©Cane River Art Corporation
P
rson
Post Office
27
ypres
s
Texas Street
Rue Po
Rue C
Jeffe
Third Street
ete
Rue D
Gate
6
Gate
P
Rue Pavie
19
Rue Buard
Gate
Rue Sibley
American
Cemetery
et
Rue Saint Denis
Restroom
d Stre
P
Univer
Pocket Parks and Gardens
Secon
Gate
Rue Ragan
Parking Lot
re
P
rkway
Information
sity Pa
?
Rue Touline
Campus Main Gate
Rue Saint Denis
Police
Rue Lafayette
33
Fifth Street
Rue Lafayette
treet
nue
Rue Horne
Boyd S
al Av
e
1
Catholic
Cemetery
Rue Trudeau
Centr
Caspari
34
Bossie
r Stree
t
Northwestern
State University
Campus
Rue
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
AND THE ALLIANCE OF NATIONAL HERITAGE AREAS
25 Minor Basilica of the Immaculate
Conception
3
49
9 Deterville’s Corner
North to
Shreveport
Cane River National Heritage Area, Inc. is a
not for profit organization that manages the
congressionally designated Cane River
National Heritage Area and works to protect,
preserve, and promote the historic character
and sustainability of the Cane River National
Heritage Area region.
780 Front Street
Natchitoches, LA 71457
1-800-259-1714
OR VISIT: www.CaneRiverNHA.org
West to
Historic Natchitoches
Historic Sites
35
Cane River National Heritage Area
Cane River National Heritage Area in
northwestern Louisiana is a largely rural,
agricultural landscape known for its historic
plantations, its distinctive Creole architecture,
and its multicultural legacy.
History Plaques
CANE RIVER
N AT I O NA L H E R I TAG E A R E A
Historic Natchitoches Map.qxp_Layout 1 7/30/15 4:01 PM Page 2
6
Ducournau Square
10
Dating to the turn of 20th century,
the original building was just twostories with a bank on the lower
level. Mid-20th and early 21st
century renovations have altered
its appearance.
One of two commercial structures
that include a carriage drive from
the front into a rear courtyard, a
feature primarily associated with
French Quarter architecture in
New Orleans. Damaged by fire,
the building was renovated in the
mid-20th century.
1
Roque House
4
Built around the time of the
Louisiana Purchase, the Roque
House is a Creole structure
that, though carefully joined,
contains no nails. Yves Pacale,
a freed black man likely
constructed the building. The
house is named for its last
occupant, Madame Aubert
Roque, who lived there until
1941. The house was moved
from downriver to this location
in 1967.
2
13
7
Also known as the LaCoste
Building, this building was
constructed in 1850. The second
floor was a dancehall called the
Comus Club. The building is one of
two in Natchitoches that retains its
original carriage drive from the
street into the rear courtyard.
Bust of St. Denis
Louis Juchereau de St. Denis,
a native of Beaufort, Quebec,
Canada, was the founder of
colonial Natchitoches and
served as an early
commandant of the French Fort
St. Jean Baptiste. St. Denis’
leadership and diplomacy were
instrumental in the success of
the fledgling colonial
settlement.
3
Celebrate with us. Spring flowers,
jazz, and Natchitoches meat pies are
highlights of some of our many
special events and holidays. The
biggest fête of all is the annual
Festival of Lights, held each
December since 1926. The scenic
riverfront and historic brick streets
serve as the backdrop for festivals
throughout the year. Carriage rides,
boat rides, trolley tours and streets
lined with flowers and ancient oaks
make every day special in
Natchitoches.
11
Originally constructed as a
bank in 1840, the current twostory brick building is a
product of pre-World War II
remolding. It is often
associated with the Ambroise
Sompayrac family, a prominent
French Creole family.
5
Kaffie-Frederick
Hardware Store
Adolph and Harris Kaffie, Jewish
Prussian immigrants, opened for
business in 1863. Their store has
been in this building since the
1890s. Titus Fredrick became a
partner in the middle of the 20th
century. The store is the oldest
continuously operated hardware
store in Louisiana.
8
Prudhomme Building
Considered the oldest building
on Front Street, this structure
has an original second-story
façade. The cast iron, including
a spiral staircase in the rear,
dates to the 1850s.
9
Deterville’s Corner
Located at the intersection of
Rue Horne and Second Street,
this is the only know location in
Natchitoches that served as a
place for selling slaves. It was
named for Joseph S. Theodore
Deterville, a local merchant.
12
Prudhomme-Rouquier
House
22
Tante Huppé House
Regarded as one of
Natchitoches’ most significant
residential expressions of the
purely Greek Revival style, Tante
Huppé House was built c. 1830.
15
18
Location of 1866
Freedmen’s Bureau Office
Once located on the bottom floor
of what was the Prud’homme
family townhome on the corner of
Rue Jefferson and Rue Touline;
the Freedmen’s Bureau assisted
former enslaved individuals in
making their transition from
enslavement to freedom.
17
Built by an Italian contractor in
1837, the Lemee House contains
many Mediterranean influences.
Alex Lemee bought the house in
1849. It served not only as his
home, but also a branch of the
Union Bank of New Orleans.
30
Built during President Roosevelt’s
Works Progress Administration in
1939, this structure was initially
built without a courtroom or
judge’s chambers. It is suggested
that this was due to the dislike of
the local judge.
Texas and Pacific
Railway Depot
The 1927 depot is inspired by
Italian Renaissance and
Spanish Revival styles. With
separate entrances and waiting
rooms, this is one of the few
buildings in Natchitoches that
demonstrates how segregation
was consciously planned into
architectural design.
33
23
Bishop Martin Museum
25
The Old Seminary was used to
house and educate seminarians.
Today it is a museum and
depository for church artifacts and
records dating back to 1724. It is
named for Augustine Martin, first
bishop of the Natchitoches
Diocese. Denis and his wife.
American Cemetery
The cemetery was established
early in the 18th century in
association with Fort St. Jean
Baptiste. Many of Natchitoches’
pioneering families are buried
here. The oldest marker dates to
the late 1700s, but the cemetery
contains inhabitants of the early
settlement, including St. Denis and
his wife.
National Center for
Preservation Technology
and Training
Lee H. Nelson Hall was
constructed in 1923 as a
classroom building and
gymnasium for the female
students of the Normal
College. After rehabilitation
efforts, NCPTT located its
offices and training facility
here in 2001.
28
19
Northwestern State
University
The Louisiana Normal School,
the state’s first teachers
college, was established in 1884.
It was later renamed
Northwestern State College and
1970 became Northwestern State
University of Louisiana
Fort St. Jean Baptiste State
Historic Site
Taylor House/ Steel
Magnolia House
Lemee House
Natchitoches Parish
Courthouse
The French colonial Fort St. Jean
Baptiste evolved from a few small
buildings used by the 18th century
trade expedition led by St. Denis.
An interpretive center and a
replica of the fort offer visitors
exhibits, live reenactments and
demonstrations.
Bayou Amulet
This historic house is most
famous for serving as a primary
location in the 1989 movie Steel
Magnolias. Today the house is a
Bed and Breakfast.
Trinity Episcopal Church
27
34
Once spanned by a wooden
bridge, Bayou Amulet originally
drained Lake Terre Noire (Sibley
Lake) into the Red River (Cane
River Lake).
16
First Baptist Church
Natchitoches’ first Protestant
Church, the Right Reverend
Leonidas Polk led members in their
first service in the courthouse on
March 31, 1839. The building
dates to 1857.
DeBlieux Building
This building was constructed
around the turn of the 20th century
to house the post office. Since then
it has had many uses including a
men’s store, hat shop, and
hardware store. Its ornamental
metalwork is notable.
Sompayrac Building
14
History is alive for children and
adults alike in Natchitoches. Stories
of the place and its people are told
in interpretive exhibits, museum, and
visitor centers. Daily tours and
reenactments offer you living histor
firsthand. The Natchitoches Historic y
Trail allows you to explore the region
at your own pace. Three centuries of
history are revealed for you here –
making lifelong learning a part of
every day. Celebrations and cultural
events throughout the year highlight
the homegrown heritage of the Cane
River community.
Seventeen members established
the congregation of First Baptist
Church in 1878, many years before
the current building was erected
in 1929. The building is a
Romanesque structure with
typical features such as semicircular arches.
Built about 1790 by Francois
Rouquier and his wife Marie
Louise Prud’homme, this stood
as the largest house in town. It
is an impressive example of
bousillage construction. The
house first renovated in 1825,
and recent restoration work was
completed in 2002.
Festivals and
Family Fun
Blanchard Building
Rich in History
First United Methodist Church
Finished in 1953, the current
building is the third church to
serve as the sanctuary for its
congregation. The first church,
built in 1880, was located on Rue
St. Denis.
21
Louisiana Sports Hall of
Fame and Northwest
Louisiana History Museum
The Louisiana Sports Hall of
Fame’s collection of portraits and
memorabilia celebrate the
achievements of more than 300
legendary Louisiana athletes,
coaches and other sports figures.
The Northwest Louisiana History
Museum explores the evolution of
the unique cultural traditions
from early native-American
civilizations to the present.
20
Nakatosh Hotel
26
24
Catholic Rectory
Built in New Orleans and shipped
to Natchitoches in 1885, the
Catholic Rectory displays
architectural features of the
Italianate and Second Empire
styles, Baptismal records dating
back to 1724 are housed here.
Old Courthouse Museum
Constructed in 1896, the old
courthouse serves as the
library for the Natchitoches
Genealogical and Historical
Association.
31
Natchitoches’ first Masonic Lodge,
originally established in 1818, was
housed in this 19th century
building for many years. Today the
building holds Lasyone’s
Restaurant, famous for the
Natchitoches Meat Pie.
Minor Basilica of the
Immaculate Conception
The current structure of the
Basilica was completed in
1892. The historic parish began
as a ministry to Fort St. Jean
Baptiste under the patronage
of St. Francis.
Old Masonic Lodge
29
Landmarks in Time Exhibit
The Natchitoches Events Center is
home to the Landmarks in Time
exhibit and contains general
information. This was also the site
of Fort Claiborne, the American fort
built in 1804 after the Louisiana
Purchase.
Roselawn
35
Completed in 1903, Roselawn is
named for the beautiful rose
garden planted by its first
owner, Eliza Payne Williams. It
is considered one of the finest
examples of Queen Anne style
architecture in Louisiana.
32
Whatever the length of your you.
the city will always welcome ric
Stroll streets lined with histo unique
homes, browse for books and of
gifts in the delightful shops enjoy a
Front Street. Take a break to
meal – you will find superb
Louisiana cuisine in our manyd start a
restaurants. End your day an s style.
new one in unique Natchitochean
Our accommodations include akfast
extensive range of bed and bre al
offerings in houses of historic
significance.
Louisiana School for
Math, Science, and
the Arts
This is the nation’s second
oldest public residential high
school for gifted and talented
students. The campus
includes the restored
Natchitoches Public High
School and Natchitoches
Trade School buildings.
Tauzin-Wells Home
Built in 1776 by Gabriel Buard,
this is the oldest remaining
home in Natchitoches. The
building represents traditional
Creole construction with its
half-timbering and bousillage.
Wildflowers in the front yard
reflect the property’s tradition of
an informal garden.
Shop, Dine, and Ststaayy,
37
36
Natchitoches National Fish
Hatchery and Aquarium
The facility sits on the site of a
historic Caddo village. The
hatchery raises sport and
endangered species of fish and
includes an aquarium that
houses native aquatic species
and historic displays.
Grand Ecore
Visitor Center
The center is located at
Grand Ecore, a community
about four miles north of
Natchitoches, and
commands a panoramic
view of the Red River. The
center features exhibits
and walking trail.