Natchitoches Historic District - Natchitoches LA
N 31° 45.671 W 093° 05.257
15R E 491702 N 3513968
Much of downtown Natchitoches Louisiana is encompassed by the US National Register Natchitoches Historic District.
Waymark Code: WMN90B
Location: Louisiana, United States
Date Posted: 01/21/2015
Views: 5
The waymark coordinates are for the Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, a contributing structure to this district.
As you walk around downtown Natchitoches along the river, you can feel the history here, in Louisiana's oldest city.
From the National Park Service website: (
visit link)
"THE NATCHITOCHES HISGTORIC DISTRICT
The Natchitoches Historic District reflects two stages of the city’s history. The lower section of the district on the west bank of the river encompasses the early French colonial section of town. Though no buildings remain from the time of the founding, many of the modern roads follow the earlier routes of the first roads in Natchitoches, explaining the non-linear layout in this part of the district. The northern area of the district contains the Natchitoches downtown area and represents a later stage of the city’s history. The downtown area was originally settled in the 1780s, during the period the city was under Spanish control. In 1788, a new Catholic church was completed at the corner of Front and Church streets. The city grew around the new church, and the area quickly became the heart of Natchitoches. The downtown area has served as the government and economic center of the city since that time.
Geographically, the historic district comprises a large area of the town along the West bank of the Cane River, and a narrow strip of land on the opposite shore. Buildings in the district are constructed in several different architectural styles, including Queen Anne, Italianate, Spanish Revival, Federal, Art Deco and Victorian. Most notably, the district also contains several examples of French Creole architecture. The Natchitoches Historic District boasts the only known two-story building entirely constructed of bousillage (a mixture of mud, Spanish moss and deer hair), the Prudhomme-Rouquier House. The only three examples of authentic French Creole townhouses outside of New Orleans are also located in the district: the Ducournau Building, the Blanchard Building and the Prudhomme Building. Within the district is a smaller, 33 city-block area that has the additional designation as a National Historic Landmark.
The Natchitoches Historic District is roughly bounded by 2nd and 4th on the west, Pavie St. on the north, Williams Ave. and Jefferson St. to the east and College Ave. to the south."