Guide to Shreveport: how to get there and where to stay, what to see and where to go in the evening. Highlights of Shreveport: fresh reviews and photos, places to see, branded entertainment and shopping.
According to toppharmacyschools, Louisiana’s third-largest city, Shreveport, is located in an area that has been dubbed “athletes’ paradise.” The abundance of rivers and lakes creates excellent conditions for outdoor activities. In addition, there are enough casinos in Shreveport, so there are enough activities for tourists here both for the day and for the night.
The gardens of the American Rose Center are dedicated exclusively to these flowers. This botanical garden was the headquarters of the American Rose Society, and today more than 20,000 varieties of roses are grown here. Collectively, the gardens represent the largest rose park in the United States.
How to get to Shreveport
The local airport is located in the western part of the city, at the intersection of Interstate 20 and Interstate 220. On the same Interstate 20, it is easy to get to Shreveport by car from Dallas or Atlanta, and on the Northern Interstate 49 – from Alexandria.
A bit of history
The city was founded in 1836 by the Shreve Town Corporation as a transportation hub on the newly navigable Red River to newly independent Texas and, new at the time, Mexico. During the Civil War, the city was the capital of Louisiana (from 1863 to 1865) and a powerful stronghold of the Confederacy. By the 20th century, the importance of the city was no longer so important for the country, but it remained famous thanks to the development of jazz and blues: many famous musicians lived and worked here. In the mid 1990s. With the advent of the floating casinos, Shreveport has been revitalized in a touristic sense, and as part of the Street Landscape project, many of the streets of the old center have been restored and decorated with stone pavements, statues, mosaics and lighting.
Attractions and attractions in Shreveport
Once upon a time, there was enough oil in this area for oilmen to settle in Shreveport and build rich and expensive mansions here. Most of these old houses have been preserved in the Highland quarter, which is along Fairfield Avenue. These are, for example, the residence of Lieutenant Governor Thomas Baret, the house of Broadway director Joshua Logan, the residence of former Governor R. Pleasant, as well as the houses of mayors, landowners and industrialists.
Pine Wold House, at the intersection of Fairfield Avenue and Kirby Street, was designed by Ed Neild, who helped create the interior design of the White House during the Truman administration. The house was built in 1903 and expanded in 1919. The Great Hague Circus wintered on the territory at one time, and the circus elephant Trilby is buried here.
4 things to do in Shreveport:
- Try the famous strawberry pie at Strawn’s Eat Shop on Kings Street.
- Go to the Bonnie and Clyde Museum, about 65 km east of Shreveport, in Gibsland, where the famous couple was shot dead.
- In the evening, see the neon lights of the Texas Street Bridge, which caused a mixed reaction from the locals, but is still crazy bright.
- Visit a floating casino. The largest is the Horseshoe, and it is, of course, open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The city has many beautiful churches of different denominations. The 1954 Rutherford Street St. Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral and the 1913 Texas Street First Unitarian Methodist Church are must-sees because of their sharp, thin spire. Worthy of attention is the former Episcopal Church of St. Mark (today the Church of the Holy Cross), a historic building built in 1839 in a medieval Gothic style with a powerful rectangular tower. Also beautiful are the Highland Memorial Unitarian Methodist Church, built in 1913, and the First Presbyterian Church on Jordan Street, with a contrasting white and red façade. Most famous and notable is the flamboyant Romanesque Revival Holy Trinity Catholic Church with corner turrets, a triangular-roofed portico and a round rose window.
The historic Municipal Auditorium, built in 1929, is located on Elvis Presley Avenue. From 1948 to 1960 the famous country music radio show Louisiana Hayride was recorded here. Elvis Presley’s first television performance took place here, on a television version of the show in 1955, and there is a statue of him in front of the building.
The Norton Art Gallery houses a collection of American and European paintings, sculptures, and decorative arts spanning over 400 years. The gallery opened in 1966 and is well known for its selection of works by American Western artists Frederick Remington and Charles M. Russell. The territory of the gallery deserves special attention: it is a landscape garden of azaleas, in which, on an area of 160,000 square meters. m planted more than 15,000 plants.
State tax breaks have made Louisiana the nation’s third largest film state (after California and New York) and earned it the nickname “Hollywood of the South.” Since the beginning of the 21st century, more than 35 films have been shot in Shreveport.
The gardens of the American Rose Center are dedicated exclusively to these flowers. This botanical garden was the headquarters of the American Rose Society, and today more than 20,000 varieties of roses are grown here. The garden has approximately 65 individual gardens, including the latest hybrids, miniature roses, single-petal roses, and more. Collectively, the gardens appear to be the largest rose park in the United States.
The Air Force Museum is located at Barksdale Air Force Base. About 30 American aircraft are assembled here, including both B52 (2BW) flying fortresses and A-10 Thunderbolt. The visit to the museum is free.
Shreveport Events
The Highland Jazz and Blues Festival has taken place every year on the second Sunday in November since 2003. It is organized in Columbia Park, in the Highlands and usually features about 10 bands.
The annual Dixie Weekend Festival in May has been held in Shreveport since 1949. The festival program usually includes a major air show hosted by Barksdale Air Force Base, located on the opposite side of the river from Shreveport.
In addition, the city hosts the Red River Feast Louisiana Short Film Festival, an annual fall art festival first organized in 1976. jazz bands. And in Shreveport, they are trying hard to revive the tradition of the Mardi Gras parade.
Neighborhood Shreveport
Cross Lake is the main source of water for the city and just a beautiful place with cypress-covered shores. It is popular with locals for fishing and boating. Two public parks adjoin the shores of the lake, including Ford’s Park with a swimming beach, playgrounds, tennis courts, and large family picnic areas.
Chimp Heaven is a rehabilitation center for chimpanzees rescued from invasive biomedical research, use in the entertainment industry, etc. It is located in the Shreveport suburb of Keithville, and is located about 35 km from the city.
To date, about 250 monkeys live here.
Nakatish is the oldest city in Louisiana, located on the road to Alexandria, about 45 minutes by car from Shreveport. Here you can still see traces of Spanish and French influence, manifested in the old architecture. The town, sometimes spelled “Nachitoches” (mistakenly), is a popular tourist destination, especially during the Christmas season, full of pretty classic shops and old cafes, and a fireworks festival at Christmas. The Nakatish Historic District stretches along the Kane River and resembles the French Quarter of New Orleans – with cobbled streets, antique shops and characteristic mansions.