Natchitoches, Louisiana Group Itineraries

Historic District Tour
Start with streetcars and horses and carriages – Open daily with guided streetcar tours through the district, “Steel Magnolia” filming sites and other historic sites. Call for tour times. 318-356-8687.

Next head to the old Courthouse State Museum located at 600 Second Street. Built in 1896, it is Louisiana’s only courthouse museum. Open Mon-Sat. 9-5 p.m.  Closed on major holidays. Admission. Time: 45 min. 318-357-2270.

Tour the Church of Immaculate Conception located at 613 Second Street. It was built around the 1850s. The spiral staircase is significant in that it has no center support.

Shop at the Kaffie-Frederick General Mercantile located at 758 Front Street. It is Louisiana’s oldest General Store. Open Mon.-Sat. 7-5 p.m. Closed major holidays. 

Check out the Spiral Staircase located at 720 Front Street, in the Prudhomme-Hughes Building, circa 1825, (Plantation Treasures). It was built in France and shipped to Natchitoches 1853.

See as much of the National Historic Landmark District, 33 blocks of restaurants, shops, antique shops, arts & crafts, book stores, art galleries, historic homes and churches, as you can on your tour.

Be sure to go over to the Walk of Honor located at 145 rue St. Denis Street and notice the marble fleur de lis set in the sidewalk. This Walk honors stars from the movies, as well as others who have made significant contributions to Natchitoches through sports, entertainment, the arts and cultural activities.

Wind things down with a tour of Fort St. Jean Baptiste located at 155 rue Jefferson. It is a museum of 18th century artifacts and history that allows interaction with visitors, allowing them to experience the culture of everyday life.

Creole Plantation Tour
First stop is the Oakland Plantation in the Cane River Creole National Historical Park, built c. 1820. Interpretive themes include French Creole architecture, slavery, plantation life, reconstruction and evolving social practices. No admission charged during on-going restoration. Restroom facilities. 318-356-8441.
 
Next head to Melrose Plantation, which is a National Historic Landmark, built circa 1796.  It includes Yucca House, African House, and Big House. It is home of famous primitive artist Clementine Hunter. Admission is $7.  Group rates 20+. 318-379-0055.
 
Then on to St. Augustine Catholic Church & Cemetery, which was founded by Augustine Metoyer in 1803. In the graveyard behind the church, epitaphs on the older stones are in French. The church is open to the public. It was the filming site for the wedding scene in the movie “Steel Magnolias”.

Next tour the Magnolia Plantation, one of two bicentennial farms west of the Mississippi River. The main house has 27 rooms including a Catholic chapel. Open Mon.–Sat. Admission. 

Go over to the Magnolia Plantation Complex in the Cane River Creole National Historical Park. See the only wooden cotton press still in its original location along with rare masonry slave cabins. No Admission. 318-356-8441.

Tour the Kate Chopin House & Bayou Folk Museum, which was built by Alexis Cloutier between 1805-1809.  It was the home of Kate Chopin in the 1880s, who is considered today to be an acclaimed 19th century American writer and storyteller. Open Daily. Admission $5. Group rates 15+. 318-379-2233

Alligators, Gardens and More
Head out to Grand Ecore Visitor’s Center located along Hwy. 6. It overlooks the Red River. The visitor center has several exhibits to view.
 
Next visit the Alligator Park & Show located on Highway 1 North. It is nine miles from downtown Natchitoches. Here you can see hundreds of alligators up close and personal or hold and feed them.  There are feeding shows hourly.  Open daily April–August 15 and weekends through October 15. Group rates for 20+. 318-354-0001 or 877-354-7001.
 
Stop in to the Campti Museum of History & Art located on Highway 71 North. It is in the old City Bank building, circa 1900. Take a journey through yesteryear and view a collection of antiques, memorabilia and snippets of history about the oldest town on the Red River. Museum hours are Tues.–Sat., 10 a.m.–2 p.m. To schedule a group tour call 318-476-2065 or 318-476-2605.

From there go to the Briarwood, The Caroline Dorman Nature Preserve in Saline, Louisiana about 45 minutes from Natchitoches. Admission. Open weekends, March, April, May, August and November, Sat., 9-5 p.m. and Sun., noon-5 p.m., or by appointment. Call for dates and directions at 318-576-3379.

El Camino Real Tour
Start with the Keegan-Cook House in Robeline. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, circa 1855. Take a guided tour of a beautiful historic home honored with a preservation award. 318-472-8610.

Tour the Los Adaes State Historic Site on the "El Camino Real" near Natchitoches. Here you will find the remains of a Spanish fort built in the 1700s to protect Texas from the French. It is a major archaeological site and offers interpretive programs. 318-472-9449 or 888-677-5378. About 12 miles west of Natchitoches.

Head over to the Rebel State Park & Louisiana Country Music Museum. The site features the gravesite of an unknown Confederate soldier and is home of the Louisiana Country Music Museum. An amphitheater offers concerts featuring gospel, country and folk music, as well as the Annual Fiddling Championship. It is about 25 miles west of Natchitoches.

Then go to the Adai Indian Nation Cultural Center in Robeline. Step back into time as this museum and historical dwellings will show the time progress of the tribe’s history. Indian arts and crafts are also on display. The museum is open 7 days a week. On the 3rd weekend in October is the annual Pow Wow in memory of their forefathers and celebration of their Indian heritage. 318-472-1007. It is about 15 miles from Natchitoches.

Agricultural Tour
Tour the Natchitoches Pecans, Inc. on 439 Little Eva Road, located on the Little Eva Plantation in Cloutierville. This plantation, originally called Hidden Hill half a century ago, is said to be the real location that inspired Harriet Beecher Stowe's classic novel, Uncle Tom's Cabin. Hidden Hill was also the birthplace of American Folk Artist Clementine Hunter. The farm also has a store that sells many pecan products. 800-572-5925. www.natchitochespecans.com.
 
Then go to the Louisiana Pecans at 208 Little Eva Plantation in Cloutierville.  The farm began in 1989 with about 1,800 trees that were a little over 30 years old. In need of another building for the farm, Louisiana Pecans discovered an old abandoned train depot in Natchez, Louisiana and moved it to the plantation and began renovations. The farm also has a store that sells many pecan products. 800-737-3226. www.louisianapecans.com

End the tour at the National Fish Hatchery, educational center, and aquarium. For more information about the Hatchery, call 318-352-5324. Open Monday through Friday from 7-3:30 p.m. or visit the Hatchery on the internet at http://natchitoches.fws.gov/.

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