Celebrate•Discover•Explore

Contact Information:Natchitoches Convention and Visitors Bureau

780 Front Street, Suite 100, Natchitoches, LA 71457

www.Natchitoches.com

1-800-259-1714

Phot

o Cr

edits

: Mar

k Bi

lls, J

ohn

C. G

uille

t, N

eil J

ohns

on, L

ane

Luck

ie, T

raha

n Ar

chite

cts,

Chr

is Po

st, M

adel

ine

DeBl

ieux

, Mol

ly D

icke

rson

, Kar

en H

oyt,

and

Ferd

era

New Orleans 275 milesLafayette 140 milesLake Charles 140 milesBaton Rouge 190 milesShreveport 70 milesMonroe 109 miles

Dallas 255 milesHouston 230 milesLittle Rock 290 milesJackson 230 milesOklahoma City 435 miles

Miles to Natchitoches from:

“Nack-A-Tish”

Natchitoches

African House, circa 1800s

St. Augustine Catholic Church, Est. 1803

Melrose Plantation, circa 1796

Prudhomme Rouquier, circa 1790

Roque House, circa 1796

Natchitoches is the oldest community in Louisiana and home to the Cane River National Heritage Area, one of only two in the state of Louisiana. This 35‑mile long river landscape is one of the most beautiful stretches of plantation country in the South. Established by Congress in 1994, it includes numerous historically significant Plantations including the Cane River Creole National Historical Park and many outstanding examples of centuries‑old Creole architecture, that are a reflection of a time and culture unique in all the country.

Magnolia Plantation Outbuilding, circa 1830

Louisiana’s Oldest City

Oakland Plantation, circa 1821Insta

#celebrateNat

Louis Juchereau de St. Denis

Celebrate

February • Mardi Gras Parade

March • Bloomin’ on the Bricks Art Along the Bricks • St. Pat’s Pub Crawl

April •JazzandR&BFestival •MelroseArts&Crafts Festival

June • Cookin’ on the Cane BBQCompetition • Girls Getaway Weekend • LA Sports Hall of Fame InductionWeekend

July •CelebrationontheCane • Natchitoches/NSU Folk Festival

September • Cane River ZydecoFestival • Natchitoches MeatPieFestival

October • Return to the 50s Car Show • Fall Tour of Homes • Characters and Customs from the Crypt Tour

November • “Turn on the Holidays” Ceremony •FestivalofLights

December •FestivalofLights •ChristmasFestivalDay • Christmas Tour of Homes

Phot

o co

mpl

imen

ts o

f Kar

en L

. Hoy

t

• Cane River National Heritage Area CaneRiverNationalHeritageArea:Historically,this116,000 acreregionlayattheintersectionofFrenchandSpanish colonialrealms.Today,itishometoauniqueblendofcultures includingFrench,Spanish,African,AmericanIndianandCreole.

• Melrose Plantation Alegendaryplantationestablishedbyafamilyofcoloraround thetimeoftheLouisianaPurchase.Becameanartistretreatin the20thcentury,ClementineHuntersoonfoundfamewithher folkpaintings.

• Oakland Plantation at Cane River Creole National Historical Park OaklandisthemostcompleteCreolePlantationintheSouth, alsoabicentennialfarm,tellingthestoryofplantationlifefrom 1789to1960.

• Magnolia Plantation at Cane River Creole National Historical Park Thisbicentennialfarmandoutbuildingscomprisetheagricultural andindustrialportionofanextensiveCreolecottonplantation.

• St. Augustine Catholic Church Foundedin1803,St.AugustineisthefirstRomanCatholic ChurchestablishedbyandforpeopleofcolorintheU.S.

• National Historic Landmark District IntheheartofNatchitoches,ahistoricdestinationfilled withhistoricchurchesandhomes,shops,restaurants, andmore.

• Fort St. Jean Baptiste AStateHistoricSitefeaturingareplicaoftheoriginal FortlocatedonCaneRiverLake,formallypartofRedRiver.

• Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame & NW Louisiana History Museum DiscoverthearchitecturalawardwinningSportsHall ofFameandHistorymuseumfeaturinginteractive exhibitsspanning3,000yearsofregionalhistory. ALouisianaStateMuseum.

• Grand Ecore Visitor Center Froman80ft.highbluff,theJ.BennettJohnston WaterwayGrandEcoreVisitorCenteroffersincredible viewsofRedRiver.Insideviewinteractivedisplays andexhibits.

• Northwestern State University Establishedin1884,NSUisafouryearcollegethatoffers oncampusclassesandfullonlinedegrees.Boastingits ownHistoricLandmarkDistrict.

Oldest Town in Louisiana!Small Town...Big History! Visitors to historic Natchitoches are frequently heard stumbling over the city’s name (pronounced Nak‑a‑tish). It is a Caddo Indian word meaning the “Chinquapin eaters.”

The original French Colony in Louisiana, was founded by Louis Juchereau de St. Denis in 1714.

Natchitoches maintains its European flavor through its architecture, heritage and lifestyle.

Discover Explore