Natchitoches, Louisiana Guide: Attractions, Dining & Historic Landmarks

• What is Fort St. Jean Baptiste State Historic Site?
  • Fort St. Jean Baptiste State Historic Site, or Fort des Natchitoches, is located in Natchitoches, Louisiana, and is part of the Cane River National Heritage Area.
• Who built Fort St. Jean Baptiste?
  • The fort was built in 1716 by Sieur Charles Claude Dutisné, who was sent to Natchitoches to establish an outpost that would prevent Spanish forces in Texas from advancing into French Louisiane.
• What was the purpose of Fort St. Jean Baptiste?
  • The fort functioned as a trading and military outpost and became a center of economic life in the area.
• When was Fort St. Jean Baptiste abandoned?
  • Fort St. Jean was abandoned in 1764, when Louisiana was transferred to Spain.
• Is the original location of Fort St. Jean Baptiste known?
  • The exact location of the original fort is unknown. The fort was reconstructed in 1979 near the spot where it was probably located.
• What activities can visitors experience at Fort St. Jean Baptiste?
  • The site hosts frequent living history re-enactments with participants in period costumes, demonstrating what life was like in the 1750s.
• Where is Fort St. Jean Baptiste located?
  • Fort St. Jean Baptiste, 155 Jefferson St, Natchitoches, LA 71457, Phone: 318-357-3101.

• Where is the J. Bennett Johnston Waterway Grand Ecore Visitor Center located?
  • The J. Bennett Johnston Waterway Grand Ecore Visitor Center is located in the town of Grand Ecore, about four miles north of Natchitoches, Louisiana. It is perched on an 80-foot high bluff, offering visitors spectacular views of the Red River.
• What can visitors see at the Grand Ecore Visitor Center?
  • The Center grounds are home to local wildlife, art and historical displays, and informational signs about waterway exploration and navigation in the area.
• Are there any trails or historical sites at the Visitor Center?
  • Yes, there is a walking trail where visitors can see Civil War entrenchments.
• What exhibits are inside the Grand Ecore Visitor Center?
  • Inside, there are nine exhibits showcasing the history of the waterway. There is also an interactive video that highlights prominent people who played a significant role in the development of Natchitoches and the Red River Basin.
• How long is the J. Bennett Johnston Waterway?
  • The J. Bennett Johnston Waterway stretches 236 miles between Shreveport, Louisiana, and the Mississippi River. It provides flood damage reduction, navigation, ecosystem restoration, and recreational opportunities.
• Where can I find more information about the Grand Ecore Visitor Center?
  • Visit the official website: Grand Ecore Visitor Center, Par Rd 429, Natchitoches, LA 71457, Phone: 318-354-8770.

What to do if you are traveling with kids:

• What is the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame & Northwest Louisiana History Museum?
  • The Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame & Northwest Louisiana History Museum are part of the Louisiana State Museum and are located in Natchitoches, Louisiana.
• What does the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame showcase?
  • The Sports Hall of Fame celebrates the history of sports in Louisiana and the achievements of more than 300 Louisiana athletes, coaches, and other sports personalities.
• What can visitors learn at the Northwest Louisiana History Museum?
  • The Northwest Louisiana History Museum explores the history, culture, and traditions of the area from early Native American civilizations to the present day.
• When did the museum open in its new facility?
  • The museum opened in its new facility on Cane River Lake in 2013. The building is designed with winding molded stone interiors and an earth-colored exterior to evoke the river.
• When was the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame founded?
  • The Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame was originally founded in 1958 by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association. It was previously located at Northwestern State University before moving to its new Hall of Fame facility in 2013.
• Where is the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame & Northwest Louisiana History Museum located?
  • 800 Front St, Natchitoches, LA 71457, Phone: 318-357-2492.

• What was Los Adaes?
  • Los Adaes was the capital of Tejas (Spanish Texas) on the northeastern border of New Spain from 1729 to 1770.
• What did Los Adaes include?
  • Los Adaes included the mission San Miguel de Cuellar de los Adaes and the presidio Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Los Adaes (Our Lady of the Pillar of the Adaes).
• What was the purpose of the mission at Los Adaes?
  • The mission was established to serve the indigenous Adai people living in the region and was noted for the unique cooperation between the French, the Spanish, and the indigenous Adaes people.
• Where is Los Adaes today?
  • The site is now protected as part of the Los Adaes State Historic Site in Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana.
• Why is Los Adaes significant?
  • Los Adaes is considered one of the most important American archaeological sites for studying colonial Spanish culture.
• Where is Los Adaes located?
  • 6354 LA-485, Robeline, LA 71469, Phone: 318-356-5555.

Activities and Attractions for Couples:

• What is the Natchitoches Christmas Festival?
  • Established in 1927, the Natchitoches Christmas Festival is one of the oldest community-based holiday celebrations in the country.
• How long does the Natchitoches Christmas Festival last?
  • The festival started as a one-day event and has since evolved into a six-week-long Christmas Season. It begins on the Saturday before Thanksgiving and ends on January 6th.
• How is the city decorated during the festival?
  • Every night during the festival, the city is illuminated with more than 300,000 lights and adorned with 100 decorations.
• Who started the Natchitoches Christmas Festival?
  • The festival was the bright idea of Max Burgdorf, the Superintendent of Utilities for the City of Natchitoches, Louisiana.
• How did the tradition of Christmas decorations begin in Natchitoches?
  • Max Burgdorf wanted a special event to celebrate Christmas and bought enough Christmas tree bulbs to light the entire Front Street and create a decorative set piece on the riverbank. The first Christmas set piece was a metal frame in the shape of the "Star of the East".
• How did the Christmas set pieces evolve?
  • Since the first decoration, new pieces were made every year. Until 2002, they were permanently placed along the riverbank.
• Where is the Natchitoches Christmas Festival located?
  • 780 Front St, Natchitoches, LA 71457.

• What is Lasyone's Meat Pie Kitchen?
  • Lasyone's Meat Pie Kitchen is a tiny, narrow eatery in Natchitoches, Louisiana, serving authentic Creole Cuisine in a cozy, friendly atmosphere.
• What type of food does Lasyone's Meat Pie Kitchen serve?
  • The menu is full of traditional Southern dishes made using old family recipes, but most people visit for their famous meat pies.
• What makes Lasyone’s Meat Pies special?
  • Their world-famous meat pies are similar to a Latino beef empanada. They are made with a flaky pastry, filled with a savory, richly spiced meat, and shaped by hand into a crescent shape.
• What other menu items are popular at Lasyone’s?
  • Other must-try dishes include the Crawfish Pie, Red Beans and Sausage, Dirty Rice, Southern Fried Catfish, Bread Pudding with Rum Sauce, and their Thursday special Chicken and Dumplings.
• Where is Lasyone's Meat Pie Kitchen located?
  • 622 2nd St, Natchitoches, LA 71457, Phone: 318-352-3353.

• What is the Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception?
  • The Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception is located in Natchitoches, Louisiana. It also serves as a parish church in the Diocese of Alexandria.
• What was the church’s historical role?
  • The church building was once the cathedral for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Natchitoches.
• Is the church historically significant?
  • Yes, as the Church of the Immaculate Conception, it is part of the Natchitoches Historic District and is registered on the National Register of Historic Places.
• When was the first church built?
  • The parish was founded in 1728, and the first church was built inside Fort St. Jean Baptiste sometime before 1733.
• How many churches have existed on this site?
  • There have been six previous churches before the current structure, each built at different locations:
    • The second church, named St. John the Baptist, was built by 1738.
    • The third church, made of stone, was constructed in 1771.
    • The fourth church was built fourteen years later at what is now Front and Church Streets.
    • The fifth church, made of brick, was 50 feet wide and 100 feet long but was destroyed in the 1838 Natchitoches fire.
    • The sixth church was completed in 1839 and in 1853 became the first cathedral for the Diocese of Natchitoches.
• When was the present church built?
  • The present church was completed by 1905 and was later transferred from Natchitoches to Alexandria.
• When was it elevated to a Minor Basilica?
  • The church was elevated to a Minor Basilica in 2009.
• Where is the Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception located?
  • 145 Church St, Natchitoches, LA 71457, Phone: 318-352-3422.

• What is the Kaffie-Frederick General Mercantile Store?
  • Kaffie-Frederick General Mercantile Store is the oldest general store in Louisiana. It is located in historic downtown Natchitoches and is a beloved city landmark.
• When was Kaffie-Frederick General Mercantile Store established?
  • The store was established in 1863 and has remained a staple of the community ever since.
• What can customers find at Kaffie-Frederick General Mercantile Store?
  • The store offers a variety of hardware, housewares, kitchen supplies, cookware, classic toys, and gifts. It maintains a nostalgic feel with its original freight elevator and 1910 cash register.
• Who founded the Kaffie-Frederick General Mercantile Store?
  • The store was founded by Jewish Prussian immigrants, Adolph and Harris Kaffie. It is currently operated by the third generation of Fredericks.
• How has the store changed over time?
  • As times changed, the store evolved. In the early 1900s, customers visited for items such as harrows, John Deere plows, cultivators, clothing fabric, and even coffins.
• What kind of products does the store offer today?
  • The store continues to provide a diverse selection of products, blending historical items with modern-day necessities like gardening tools, kitchenware, and swings.
• Where is the Kaffie-Frederick General Mercantile Store located?
  • 758 Front St, Natchitoches, LA 71457, Phone: 318-352-2525.