Heritage in Louisiana: Following in the Footsteps of Early Inhabitants

While researchers are still unearthing the full story of Poverty Point's 3,400-year-old earthen mounds, this UNESCO World Heritage site is believed to have been a bustling center of commerce and culture that was likely home to nearly 5,000 inhabitants. Today, you can explore five massive half-circle-shaped mounds along scenic hiking paths. An on-site museum displays artifacts excavated in the area and interprets what is currently understood about the history of the site and the Native Americans who lived there. Poverty Point is in the town of Pioneer, about four hours north of New Orleans near the Mississippi and Louisiana border.

Louisiana’s Acadian people are descendants of French farmers who settled in the French colony of Acadie in modern-day Nova Scotia, Canada, in the 1600s. After their exile from the colony due to political unrest in the late 1700s, many Acadians established settlements in south Louisiana. Their unique way of life is the foundation of Louisiana’s Cajun culture, which has had untold influences on the state’s art, food and music. The Jean Lafitte National Historical Park & Preserve tells the stories of these resilient people. Stop by the Acadian Cultural Center for a colorful look at this facet of Louisiana history through ranger talks, films, events and exhibits that highlight the local music, storytelling, dance and food traditions of the Atchafalaya Basin. Visit the park and center in Lafayette, a must-visit city to experience Louisiana’s authentic Cajun culture, food and music. Lafayette is about two and a half hours west of New Orleans.

Louisiana’s only national forest is named for the tribe of Kichai Indians of the Caddo Confederacy, who called themselves “Kitsatchie.” Within the forest, researchers have excavated thousands of artifacts from nomadic peoples who lived or spent time here dating back as far as 12,000 years. Walk in the footsteps of these ancient peoples as you explore rolling hills covered in old-growth pines – ideal for wildlife watching, hiking and mountain biking – or paddle along the Kisatchie Bayou. The Longleaf Trail Byway runs through the park, offering a convenient way to see some of Louisiana’s most surprising topography including mesas, buttes and sandstone outcrops. Kitsatchie National Forest is in the center of the state, near Alexandria and Pineville and about four hours north of New Orleans.

Many of Louisiana’s museums are committed to preserving the artifacts and lifestyles of the state’s diverse Indigenous peoples. The Chitimacha Tribe is the only Native American nation in Louisiana to still occupy part of their original homeland, and the tribe-operated Chitimacha Museum highlights their customs and history. Located in the town of Charenton, this small but fascinating museum preserves centuries of artifacts, clothing and river cane basketry, the tribe’s most celebrated cultural tradition. Just outside Alexandria, the Tunica-Biloxi Museum showcases the “Tunica Treasure,” a wide-ranging cache of Native American and European trade items and artifacts that were repatriated to the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana in in the 1980s. Visit Shreveport to tour the Louisiana State Exhibit Museum, an art deco landmark dating back to 1939. With collections and exhibits focused on Poverty Point and the Caddo Confederacy, the museum is an insightful stop on your tour through Louisiana’s rich cultural heritage.

Fly into Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY). Rent a car so you can visit these sites at your own pace.