Central Louisiana
Explore the natural beauty and historic sites of central Louisiana, from hiking the hills of the Kisatchie National Forest, to visiting the state’s oldest city at Natchitoches, founded in 1714. This region also hosted the 1941 Louisiana Maneuvers, largest domestic military exercise in U.S. history.
LSU Origin
The LSU origin story doesn’t begin in Baton Rouge, but more than 100 miles away on a wooded hilltop in Pineville, Louisiana. Long before Tiger Stadium roared with Saturday football,…
The Last Buffalo in Louisiana
The rifle shot echoed through the tall pine trees of the Kisatchie National Forest, a shot that killed the last buffalo in Louisiana. That buffalo, the commonly misused name for…
Caroline Dormon
a gift of nature A woman named Caroline Dormon spent her life trying to preserve Louisiana’s native plants and natural landscapes. And when she died a half-century ago, Dormon left…
Moon Tree
More than a half-century after a bag of seeds was carried to the moon and back, a moon tree stands tall in Louisiana’s Kisatchie National Forest. It is the only…
Louisiana Hiking Trail
Louisiana has a new long distance hiking trail that features paths along bayous, cypress swamps and through hills of pine forests. The new Bayou State Trail will take you from…
Roque House
The historic Roque House, a Creole house built more than two centuries ago near Natchitoches, is reopening for public tours. This reopening not only marks the preservation of a physical…
River Cane
In central Louisiana, the U.S. Forest Service is spearheading efforts to restore river cane, a bamboo-like plant that played a vital role in Native American culture for thousands of years.…
Finding Ice Age Louisiana
Ice Age Louisiana is gradually yielding its secrets as archaeologists meticulously dig deep into the layers of history in Kisatchie National Forest. These researchers have unearthed a treasure trove of…
Pine Snake
A major effort is underway to release more pine snakes into the Kisatchie National Forest in western Louisiana. You might think that the Bayou State already has plenty of the…
Colfax Massacre Memorial
Colfax, a small town in northern Louisiana, has a new memorial to a massacre. The memorial commemorates a brutal and deadly racial massacre that occurred there in 1873. Almost 150…
Bunkie Louisiana
What’s in a Name? The town of Bunkie, Louisiana, has a one-of-a kind name. There is no other “Bunkie” anywhere in the United States. And there is an interesting story…
Duck Call
a bayou beast A Louisiana man clings to the traditions of his French ancestors for making duck calls and the other necessities of duck hunting. Dale Bordelon gets everything he…
Old Pineville City Hall
The old brick Pineville City Hall was a modern building when it opened in 1931. The structure provided all of the services of the local government under one roof, including…
St. Augustine Church
A creole louisiana landmark Historic St. Augustine Church, nestled on the banks of Louisiana’s Cane River Lake, stands as a testament to the resilience and faith of the region’s Creole…
Cammie Henry
In the early 20th century, Cammie Henry emerged as a visionary woman, transforming her Melrose Plantation in Louisiana into a sanctuary for renowned Southern writers and artists. She captured the…
761st Tank Battalion
At a time when the U.S Army was still racially segregated, the all-Black 761st Tank Battalion was created at Camp Claiborne in Louisiana. The unit nicknamed the “Black Panthers” went…
Valentine Lake
For a Louisiana campground, Valentine Lake may be a bit on the primitive side, but this secluded spot on a quiet lake is truly a real beauty. Immerse yourself in…
Bluegrass Jam
Bluegrass music enthusiasts gather once a month at the old train depot museum in the west-central Louisiana town of DeRidder to jam on some of their favorite old-time songs. The…
Louisiana No Man’s Land
The far western portion of Louisiana was once known as “No Man’s Land”, and it attracted outlaws who took advantage of the disputed territory to avoid justice. Charles “Leather Britches”…
Red River Raft
The Great Raft on the Red River blocked any attempt to use the river for navigation. The Raft was a logjam hundreds of years in the making that blocked any…
Allen Acres
One man’s passion for native Louisiana plants and butterflies has led to the creation of Allen Acres, a bed and breakfast with a focus on nature. Dr Charles Allen has…
Cazan Lake
Cazan Lake may be one of the best places in Louisiana to watch and photograph nesting birds. Known as PJF Farm and Lodge, the 3,500 acre private property is a…
Melrose Plantation
Melrose Plantation is a nearly 200 year old National Historic Landmark located on Cane River Lake in central Louisiana that was home to folk artist Clementine Hunter. Built by a…
Louisiana Sawmill town’s short life
The plan was for the Fullerton sawmill in Louisiana to stay in operation for generations. But in only 20 years, the historic lumber mill town of 5,000 people had vanished.…
Toledo Bend Reservoir
The Toledo Bend Reservoir was born from a unique partnership between the state of Louisiana and neighboring Texas. The 1960’s project created the largest reservoir in the South that is…
Colfax Massacre
Two strangers whose great ancestors were on opposite sides of the racially-charged Colfax Massacre 150 years ago have formed an unexpected friendship as they try to set the record straight.…
Missing Grave of a Louisiana Governor
For decades, the gravesite of a former Louisiana governor has been missing. In the mid-20th century, a cotton field replaced the family grave of former Governor Joseph Walker, who died…
Toledo Bend Has Two State Parks
South Toledo Bend State Park is temporarily closed for road repairs and cabin upgrades. The Toledo Bend Reservoir, located on the Louisiana-Texas state line, is famous for its fishing tournaments,…
Louisiana Maneuvers at Fort Polk
Louisiana’s Fort Polk was at the center of preparations by the U.S. Army to modernize its fighting forces and strategies for the battlefields of World War Two. A half million…
Hiking Louisiana’s Wild Azalea Trail
The Wild Azalea Trail cuts a 24 mile long path through central Louisiana’s Kisatchie National Forest. You are likely to see wild azaleas blooming in the creek bottoms along the…
Sawmill Frozen in Time
It is one of many sawmills that were harvesting Louisiana’s longleaf pine trees in the late 1800’s. And along the way, this sawmill in Longleaf, Louisiana played a critical role…
Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame
Louisiana has a rich sports history that goes far beyond the gridiron. From dirt horse tracks to Olympic medals and the now-banned sport of high school boxing, you will find…
Kisatchie National Forest
Hiking the Kisatchie Hills The Kisatchie is the only national forest in the state of Louisiana, and it offers numerous trails that can make for a great day of hiking. …
See the Milky Way in Louisiana’s Kisatchie National Forest
Seeing the milky way in Louisiana can be a challenge. You have to time your stargazing to a night when the moon is not lighting up the night sky and…
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