Cane River National Heritage Area is a place where many cultures - American Indian, French, Spanish, African, Creole, and later American came together to create a way of life dependent on the land, the river, and each other.
Cane River Region
Cane River National Heritage Area is a region known for historic landscapes, Creole architecture and multi-cultural legacy. Historically this region lay at the boundary of French and Spanish realms in the New World. Today it is home to a unique blend of cultures that reflect this legacy. Cane River National Heritage Area, Louisiana’s only national heritage area, boasts a variety of beautiful historic sites. This region includes Cane River Creole National Historical Park, seven national historic landmarks, three state historic sites, and 24 properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Much of the 35-mile-long region is privately owned yet many sites are open to the public.
Natchitoches National Historic Landmark District
Natchitoches traces its history to a French colonial settlement established in 1714 near the Natchitoches Indian village on the Red River. Trade and plantation agriculture shaped the city's early years. The original French settlement lay south of the current town center. As the Louisiana territory become Spanish and eventually American, the town moved north to Front Street. Much of the town's historic architecture has been preserved. The shifting Red River left Natchitoches behind, protecting it from 20th century development. Caring citizens recognized the importance of this accidental legacy. Today, the National Historic Landmark District encompasses 33 blocks in the heart of Natchitoches.
Historic Places
Today, colonial forts, Creole plantations, churches, cemeteries, archeological sites, historic transportation routes, and commercial centers provide a special view into this past. The people of Cane River continue the traditions handed down through generations that keep the unique cultures of this region alive.
Write to
P. O. Box 1201 452 Jefferson Street, Suite 150 Natchitoches, LA 71457
