Cane River National Heritage Area

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Intro

The Cane River National Heritage Area is a largely rural, agricultural landscape know both for its historic Creole-style plantations and structures and its unique people and culture. The area has been shaped by almost 300 years of events--large and small, difficult and joyous. Today it is home to a history and culture that has evolved from those events, and from the people who have lived them: the Europeans, the Native Americans, free and enslaved Blacks, the Creoles of French, Spanish, African and American Indian descent.

Located primarily in Natchitoches Parish, the Cane River Heritage Area includes five National Historic sites (including the city of Natchitoches' National Historic Landmark District), three State Historic Areas (including a replication of the original 1714 French fort), the Cane River Creole National Historic Park (two sites), and many historic plantations, homes and churches.

The central corridor of the area begins just south of the City of Natchitoches. It meanders south along both sides of Cane River Lake (once the Red River before it changed course) for 35 miles. While much of the roughly 45,000-acre heritage area is privately owned, many sites are open to the public.