12 Historical Landmarks You Absolutely Must Visit In Louisiana

If you are looking to explore all that Louisiana has to offer, there are some truly amazing historic sites that will help you understand the history of this beautiful state. These sites will help you frame your understanding of Louisiana and give you a historic perspective on our great state that is sure to delight you. Here are some of the most important landmarks:

Wikicommons / Michael Barera

Found at 705 Elvis Presley Boulevard, it was constructed between 1926 and 1929. The auditorium is probably most famous for hosting the Louisiana Hayride radio program that featured and spawned the careers of some of the greatest artists of American Country music, including Hank Williams, Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash.

Wikicommons / Z28scrambler

This house was home to the 10th governor of the state, Edward Douglass White, Sr., and his son, Edward Douglas White Jr., who became a U.S. Senator and ultimately the Chief Justice of the United States.

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Wikicommons / J Stephen Conn

Editor's Note: Marksville Prehistoric Indigenous Peoples Site is temporarily closed.

While the mounds at Poverty Point are more extensive, this site has been seen as distinctive for many decades. The 42-acre site is maintained by the state of Louisiana and features artifacts, exhibits and other information about the indigenous people in the area.

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This boat was built in 1943 to fight in WWII, where it traveled the world from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean to the Caribbean. It is now a memorial for Louisiana WWII Veterans and is used as a museum. It’s the only USS Kidd that retained its World War II appearance.

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Built in 1853, Gallier Hall was the former city hall of New Orleans and is a nationally recognized example of Greek Revival architecture.

Flickr.com / Ed Bierman

Rebuilt between 1795-1799 by the Spanish government in New Orleans, the Cabildo was the colonial government building and was used by the New Orleans city council until the 1850s. It is now the home of the Louisiana State Museum.

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Wikicommons / Dan Troyka

This site commemorates the engineering feat. When it was built Plaquemine Lock was the highest freshwater lift in the world. The Gary James Herbert Memorial Lockhouse is now a museum where visitors can learn about the engineering and waterflow here.

Wikicommons / Tjean314

This is the oldest structure in CenLA, built in 1800. It is now the home of a number of buildings, including original artifacts. The Milk House and the Blacksmith Shop are favorite stops for tourists.

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This fort was built in 1822 as a way to manage the border between what was now the United States and the areas in Texas that the Spanish were laying claim to during The Louisiana Purchase. The soldiers who lived here did a lot of work to settle this area for the Americans and protect the new border that was established in 1819 as the Sabine River. Tours are available on Fridays. It is located at 32 Geoghagan Rd., Many, LA 71449.

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This site is the oldest state park in Louisiana, established in 1934. The site takes its cues from the famous epic poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Evangeline. The culture of Acadian and Creole peoples in this area is showcased here.

Wikicommons / Billy Hathorn

Here, you’ll find the memorial to the Battle of Mansfield, an 1864 battle of the American Civil War. This battle is seen as important because the Confederate troops succeeded in their Red River Campaign, prolonging the war until 1865.

Wikicommons / Marika Christian

This site is a family cemetery that was part of the former Locust Grove Plantation, which was once owned by the family of Jefferson Davis, a former confederate president.

Do you have any favorite historic landmarks in Louisiana? Have you visited any of these places? Let us know your experiences at these places! We love to hear your feedback.