Cane River That Runs We Have an App for That
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® HHISTISTORICORIC NNAATTCHITCHITOCHEOCHESS A Free Guide to Leisure and Attractions Courtesy of The Natchitoches Times Since 1970 WWelcomeelcome HomeHome J a n u a r y 2 0 1 1 Page 2 HISTORIC NATCHITOCHES January 2011 Welcome to Natchitoches: IInside...nside... Enjoy your stay in our historic town Entering downtown his- called Cane River that runs We have an app for that . Page 3 toric Natchitoches, visitors through the downtown feel transported to another National Landmark Fort St. John Baptiste era. District. Page 4 Traveling along bumpy Once a bustling riverport brick roads reminiscent of and crossroads, Natchitoches Pecans. .. .. .Page 5 pre-asphalt travel, you Natchitoches gave rise to notice ornate ironwork on vast cotton kingdoms along Airport. Page 6 the bridges and shops, the river. Affluent planters Tours. .Page 7 horse-drawn carriages not only owned charming around the historic district country plantations, but Maps, Walking Tours, NSU Tour and and locals who smile and kept elegant houses in town. greet you with a friendly The Red River’s abandon- Cane River Tour . Pages 8-10 wave. Welcome to ment of Natchitoches isolat- Natchitoches. ed the community, preserv- Grand Ecore Founded in 1714 by Louis ing its historic buildings Page. 11 Juchereau de St. Denis, the and the deeply-ingrained city of Natchitoches was traditions of its residents Briarwood. Page 12 originally established as a along the Cane River. French outpost on the Red Today, residents of Louisiana Pecans River to facilitate trade with Natchitoches strive to bal- Page 13 the Spanish in Mexico. ance progress and industry The fort, which was to be with preserving the integri- Events. .. .. .Page 15 discovered, was built some- ty of the city’s colonial his- where along the west bank tory and rich cultural diver- Caddo Adai of the Red River near a vil- sity. Page 16 lage of Natchitoches With its French, Spanish, Indians, a Native American Native American, African group whose tribal name and Anglo-Saxon influ- means “Chinquapin- ences, Natchitoches main- eaters.” tains a colorful palette of At the time of the estab- ethnic tradition, hospitality lishment of St. Denis’ fort, and pride in the past that navigation of the Red River residents share with visi- was prohibited by a massive tors. log jam that was broken up The city is consistently during a flood in the 1830s. named among the top six ‘Historic Natchitoches’ is a monthly Thus, the Red River retirement locations in the publication of The Natchitoches Times changed its course, leaving United States by Kiplinger’s Produced by a 36-mile-long oxbow lake Magazine. News Editor Juanice Gray To advertise in this publication contact The Natchitoches Times P.O. Box 448 Natchitoches, LA 71458 (318) 352-3618 Cover Photo - Rural Natchitoches Parish For more information on local history and events contact: Natchitoches Parish Tourist Commission 781 Front Street; Natchitoches, LA 71457 (318) 352-8072 or 1-800-259-1714 Web site: www.natchitoches.net 318-352-4426 ® REALTOR N EWLY R ENOVATED ! PLS 1000 University Parkway, Natchitoches, LA Visit our Web Site at: Across from NSU www.caneheritagerealty.com • FREE High Speed Wireless Internet • FREE Continental Breakfast • FREE 27” remote controlled TV w/Expanded Cable, HBO, CNN, ESPN WE WORK EVENINGS & WEEKENDS • FREE In Room Coffee Maker & Hair Dryer • FREE In Room Microwave & Refrigerator 357-8220 • 560 Front St. CALL US FOR AN APPOINTMENT • Outdoor Swimming Pool • Close to Downtown Historic District January 2011 HISTORIC NATCHITOCHES Page 3 We have an app for that Available for free in January information about one of the through Apple iTunes, the richest historic areas of the Explore Louisiana Crossroads state. Visitor Guide Application -Auto and walking tour (APP) will allow users to take guides for the historic and nat- advantage of the advanced ural resource sites in the area. capabilities of the iPhone, iPad -Quick access to and iPod Touch user interface. Northwestern State University, “The Explore Louisiana the City of Crossroads APP will be an easy- Natchitoches along with safe- to-navigate tool for both pre-trip ty information, emergency con- planning and to get information tacts and more. while onsite at a variety of -Quick dial from your iPhone recreational sites in the area,” to contact all listings and links said Brandi Bradford lead park to area Web sites. The Explore Louisiana ranger with the U.S. Army -Links within each visitors’ Crossroads icon, above, will Corps of Engineers. “It is guide to other information and appear on iPhones after the intended both for visitors to the interesting sites you may also app is downloaded. Natchitoches area, as well as want to see during your trip. local residents who may want to -Safety information for all explore more of the historic, types of recreation activities -Natchitoches Area natural, and recreational trea- you may want to try during Convention and Visitors sures that the Crossroads your visit. Bureau offers.” -Emergency contacts and -City of Natchitoches Features of the Explore other services that you may -Association for Preservation Louisiana Crossroads applica- have need of during your trip, of Historic Natchitoches tion include: such as post offices, banks, hos- -Melrose Plantation -Quick access and Google pitals and other services. -Cane River Waterway map locations for all recreation -History and significance of Commission sites, historic sites, dining, the Natchitoches region -Cane River Creole National shopping, lodging, camping, -Directions, details and Historical Park boating, fishing and other activ- Google map locations for area -Cane River National ities available to visitors com- sites Heritage Area ing to the La. Crossroads -Auto and walking tour ideas -Natchitoches Area Chamber The Explore Louisiana Crossroads Visitor Region. -Safety, service and emer- of Commerce Guide Application is free and available -Directions, details of what to gency contact information -U.S. Army Corps of soon through Apple iTunes. It allows find at each site, hours of opera- A consortium of Engineers quick and easy pre-trip planning for tion, fees and other important Natchitoches organizations The APP is powered by places of interest within the state, includ- info to get visitors to any site joined together to provide con- Nomad Mobile Guides(TM). ing Natchitoches Parish. they want to find. tent for this APP. Project part- For more information, con- -Historical and heritage ners include: tact Bradford at 318-354-8770. Art Guild Events Natchitoches Art Guild will host ‘Art and Hors d’oeuvres” Jan. 29 Natchitoches Art Guild Guest Artist Ernie Fournet will from 4-7 p.m. The session will be under the guidance of artists be featured with an exhibition of artworks consisting of Linda Lyles and Joan Edwards at the Natchitoches Art Gallery. pencil work and paintings. He specializes in works fea- Participants will be painting a Mardi Gras Mask. All supplies and turing personal experiences as a law enforcement officer light refreshments will be provided. Attendees are invited to pro- and a member of the U.S. military. A reception honoring vide their beverages of choice. Call the gallery at 318-352-1626 to Fournet will be Jan. 14 from 4- 6 p.m. in the Gallery. sign up or for more information. There is no admission. Page 4 HISTORIC NATCHITOCHES January 2011 Step back in time at Fort St. Jean Baptiste State Historic Site moves toward living history demonstrations The commandant’s quar- inal location is unknown, and grasses to seal the ters are foggy with smoke though it is believed to walls (what the French that trails from the fire- have stood where the Old called “bousillage”). place. American Cemetery is But the fort is not meant Next door, well-worn today. to be a museum of 18th cen- leather shoes wait next to a The fort that visitors tury treasures. The goal of soldier’s bed and rumpled tour today is a reconstruc- this State Historic Site is to bedcovers in another belie tion based on historical interact with visitors, let- a straw mattress beneath. records. ting them experience the If this place looks as Though it’s hard for visi- culture of everyday life. though the garrison has tors to believe, nothing “We are moving towards just stepped out, then the inside its walls is a genuine living history,” says staff at Fort St. Jean artifact from the 18th cen- Interpretive Ranger Baptiste have succeeded. tury--except, perhaps, the Darren Vermillion. “We Named for a French slowly weathering mud keep fires going in the patron saint, the fort’s orig- that is mixed with moss houses, bake bread… and basically try to make the fort look alive.” Vermillion says that part of their goal is to debunk the stereotypes associated with the oldest town in the Louisiana Territory. “Natchitoches was not the back woods in the 1770s,” he explains. “It was a booming community.” The French garrison sta- tioned at Fort St. Jean Baptiste had a double pur- Tanning demonstrations occur throughout the year. pose: keeping a close eye on main business of the garri- “The soldiers adapted to the Spanish at Los Adaes to son. Good relations with Louisiana woods,” says The Association For the west and being a center the Native American tribes Vermillion. “They adapted for trade. The later boosted also encouraged the sol- to Native American dress The Preservation of the economy of the French diers to assimilate their and wore their style cloth- colonists and became the clothing styles and habits. ing, such as leggings.” Historic Natchitoches Invites You To Visit… Our National Historic Landmarks Black powder demonstrations are a favorite among visitors Best Western Melrose Plantation Natchitoches at I-49 and Hwy. 6 Interchange Complex (Nine Buildings) Open Tuesday - Sunday 12 pm - 4 pm King and Queen Rooms • HBO • Pool Groups by Appointment Free Continental Breakfast 318-379-0055 For reservations call 16 Miles South Of Natchitoches In Cane River Country 352-6655 or 1-800-528-1234 January 2011 HISTORIC NATCHITOCHES Page 5 Natchitoches Pecans: home of fine pecans Natchitoches Pecans, Inc.