The Stories Behind These 5 Historic Districts In Louisiana Will Amaze You
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Kezia Kamenetz
Author
Louisiana is home to a vast number of historic buildings and districts that color our history and make Louisiana so unique. We’ve done some research to find some of the most astounding Louisiana historic district that are sure to amaze you. Here are some the most fascinating historic districts that have some truly interesting stories behind them.
St. Landry Parish Courthouse
This National district is home to some of the oldest buildings in the greater Opelousas area, and the vast majority of the buildings here were built between 1840 and 1939. These buildings include great examples of the Romanesque Revival architectural style and the Art Deco architectural style. The St. Landry Parish courthouse was built in 1839 and was built in a truly gorgeous art deco style and has an above-ground basement.
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This national historic district on the Westbank of the Mississippi River is an excellent place to explore Louisiana’s rich history. Gretna was originally settled by German immigrants beginning in 1836. Nicholas Destrehan founded the specific Mechanikam area, and it soon became well known in the area as the "Free State of Jefferson" because of the unrestricted gambling here.
The David Crockett Firehouse can be found here, which is the oldest volunteer fire company in the nation and the home of the Louisiana State Fire Museum. There are many other sites worth taking a visit here, including the Gretna Green Blacksmith Shop and the German-American Cultural Center.
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This district began being laid out in 1805-1810 century by Bernard de Marigny and was added to the national list of historic districts in 1994. The wide Elysian Fields Ave. was designed to be the central street of this neighborhood, and was the very first avenue that extended from the river to the lake in New Orleans. This neighborhood, especially the area above St. Claude Ave., was used by white Creoles to house their mistresses and their children. Over the years, Frenchmen St. began to be developed as music venues flocked there, and it is now one of the premiere tourist destinations in the city.
Fairfield district is one of Shreveport’s oldest neighborhoods, built up in the early 1900’s as one of the most wealthy neighborhoods in the city. The houses here are unique examples of architecture of the time, including Queen Anne, Victorian Style, American Four Square and historic bungalows. The District includes St. Marks Episcopal Church and Day School, one of the most beautiful churches in Louisiana. This district is lovingly maintained by a group of surrounding neighbors and hosts regular events in the area.
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This historic district has can be found at the end of Bayou St. John, the historic waterway that connects the Mississippi River to Lake Pontchartrain. In fact, this waterway was used for trade dating back to the late 17th century by both French trappers and Native Americans. The community that settled here, Port Bayou Saint-Jean, wasn’t incorporated as part of New Orleans until the beginning of the 19th century. A number of gorgeous buildings with unique architectural history can be found here. In 1852, the Union Race Course began construction, now known as the New Orleans Fair Grounds. The Fair Grounds are now the home of the New Orleans Jazz Fest.
Did you know the history behind all of these places? What other history do you know about these districts? Let us know your thoughts! We love hearing your feedback about these Louisiana historic districts.
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