Cane River Creole National Historical Park and Natchitoches
National Historical Park; National Historic Landmark District · Natchitoches, Louisiana
Natchitoches was founded in 1714, four years before New Orleans, which makes it the oldest permanent European settlement in the whole Louisiana Purchase territory — and it is pronounced NAK-a-tish, which is the first thing anyone will tell you. Its brick Front Street with cast-iron balconies runs along the Cane River, and out along that river are the plantations of Cane River Creole country, where a distinct Creole culture of French, African and Native descent held land, property and, uncomfortably, people. The National Park Service preserves two of those places.
400 Rapides Drive, Natchitoches, Louisiana, 71457, United States
The Natchitoches historic district is a public town, walkable at any hour and free. The two National Park Service units — Oakland and Magnolia Plantations — are FREE but keep shorter hours than the town, with main house interiors shown on ranger-led tours at posted times only; they are 15 and 30 minutes from town respectively, so check before driving out. Melrose Plantation is separately owned, guided only and charges admission. The Christmas Festival of Lights runs from late November and books out the town's lodging months ahead.
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