Louisiana has an extremely interesting history and culture. The land was first settled by the French and parts were later occupied by the Spanish. The Americans then took over the area after Napoleon Bonaparte sold the land in the Louisiana Purchase.As a result of the territory changing hands so many times, the area has a vast array of historical sites honoring different ethnic groups and cultural heritages. Almost all of these historical sites are extremely interesting to visit and have much to offer in the form of education and entertainment. Some of these sites stand out from the rest and are true must-see destinations in Louisiana. Here are some of the top historic sites in Louisiana that history buffs absolutely have to visit.
French Quarter
The French Quarter is one of the oldest and most historic areas in the city of New Orleans. Its origination dates all the way back to 1718, as the rest of New Orleans sprung up around the district. Although it’s named the French Quarter, much of the original French influence has been slowly eroded since the Louisiana Purchase. However, there are still several areas where French culture and architecture shines through. As a result, the French Quarter in its entirety was named a historic landmark. Today the French Quarter is filled with both modern amenities like restaurants, hotels, and bars while also blending in the historical aspect. This makes the French Quarter a great place to visit for both history buffs and partygoers. If you’re looking for New Orleans houses for sale,then chances are you’re likely to be spending a lot of time in the French Quarter in the near future.
Oak Alley Plantation
Oak Alley Plantation is an old plantation located in the southeastern portion of Louisiana. The plantation is a reminder of America’s dark history of slavery, as the entire mansion was built from slave labor. Many slaves also worked on the plantation harvesting the sugar cane that the plantation was known for. Once slavery was declared illegal and the property was damaged from the Civil War, the original owners had to sell the property. Eventually, the property fell into the hands of a family by the name of Stewart, who then commissioned several repairs. The Stewarts used the plantation as a cattle ranch before slowly reintroducing sugar cane to the property. Finally, upon Stewart’s death, the property was given to the Oak Alley Foundation and opened to the public as a historical monument. This property is absolutely gorgeous and is the perfect property for history fans visiting Indiana.
Fort St. Jean Baptiste
This famous fort is a stunning replica of the original French fort that was constructed in the early 1700s. The fort was an important part of the town of Natchitoches, one of the first European settlements in the land that would encompass the Louisiana Purchase. The fort was used for defense and a hub for trading, allowing local settlements to prosper. After the area was transferred to Spain, the fort was abandoned and eventually lost to history. Luckily American architects recreated a replica from blueprints that were found, creating a building that resembles colonial architecture. This would be a sight to see on its own, but the fort also hosts several reenactments every year, depicting what life in colonial times was like. If you want to feel like you’re truly stepping back in time, then this would be the perfect location for you to visit.
Louis Armstrong Park
Louisiana and New Orleans have always had a strong connection with jazz music, and there are several monuments to the genre throughout the area. One of the most famous of these is Louis Armstrong Park. The park gets its name from singer Louis Armstrong,a New Orleans native and one of the most famous jazz musicians of all time. The park hosts a wide variety of musical events and performances, most of which relate to the jazz genre or African American heritage. As a result, the park is not only a very important historical site but also a very important cultural site as well.
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