The YMCA, which stands for the Young Men's Christian Association and is offered referred to now as the "Y", was originally founded in London, England in 1844 by George Williams. Its purpose was to provide opportunities for bible study, prayer, and recreation for young men (at that time, England was in the midst of the Industrial Revolution and men from the countryside went to cities to find work, but this transition was very difficult and life in cities was crowded and dangerous). In Boston, sea captain Thomas Valentine Sullivan saw a similar situation among young sailors and merchants. He founded the first YMCA in America at the Old South Church on December 29, 1851.The YMCA grew quickly around the country. It also started to provide opportunities for educational and leadership development, housing, English classes for immigrants, and other programs. Here in Shreveport, the YMCA's origins date back to the 1860s. Its first physical location was a three-story building constructed in 1888 that the city's first gymnasium. Despite being present in the city for many decades, the Shreveport YMCA wasn't officially incorporated 1922. Construction for the downtown building began in 1923 and was completed in 1925. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1923.

Built in 1925, the Downtown Shreveport YMCA is a fine example of Italian Renaissance architecture.

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The Downtown Shreveport YMCA is a historic building erected in 1925 that is significant for its unique Italian Renaissance architecture and its association with the YMCA. Designed by architect Clarence W. King, the building resembles the Villa Medici in Rome, Italy. The building's most interesting and recognizable features are the twin bell towers on the roof. Other notable features include arched openings, some of which have double windows; a triple-arched entrance with Corinthian columns and the YMCA emblem; a rooftop balustrade; and blue and gold terra cotta decoration. Inside, the central lobby features a vaulted ceiling, an Italian hooded fireplace in an adjoining room, two gymnasiums, and a basement indoor pool with decorative tilework. The YMCA has occupied the building since its construction, providing the community a space for recreation, educational development, and socializing for nearly a century. 

Downtown Shreveport YMCA

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This walking tour makes a loop through downtown Shrevport and includes landmarks such as the Strand Theatre and Logan Mansion and museums dedicated to history, art, and science.

The museum began offering exhibits and educational programs in bank lobbies and malls during the 1980s. The popularity of these programs enabled the museum to move in 5,000 square foot site in downtown Shreveport. Over 300,000 people visited the museum during the first three and half years it was at that location. Again, success enabled it to move into its current building in 1998. A new space center was added in 2006.

Founded in the early 1980s, Sci-Port: Louisiana's Science Center is a science, math and technology museum located along the Red River in downtown Shreveport. The 92,000 square foot facility contains over 290 exhibits, the world's first open-access, interactive laser Space Dome Planetarium, a demonstration theater, and an IMAX Dome theater. It has received over two million visitors since it moved to its current location in 1998.   

Sci-Port: Louisiana's Science Center

The building was likely constructed&nbsp;around the beginning of the Civil War but the first occupant, Tally's Bank, did not move in until 1866. Several other banks as well as insurance companies and other business were located in the building during the&nbsp;following decades. The last owners donated the building a women's group called the National Society of Colonial Dames in 1975 which oversaw restoration and led efforts to have the building placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.&nbsp;

The Spring Street Historical Museum is located in one of the oldest remaining buildings and in downtown Shreveport, Louisiana. The museum is dedicated towards preserving the history of Shreveport from the 18th and 19th centuries. It offers permanent and revolving exhibits. Its collection includes vintage clothing dating to 1835, toys, firearms, swords, photographs, antique maps, period furniture, and plantation records. She floor features an exhibit that recreates a Victorian parlor in the 1870s-1880s. The museum is operated by the Shreveport Committee of the National Society of Colonial Dames. 

Spring Street Historical Museum

Catholicism first reached northwest Louisiana in 1717 when a Franciscan missionary founded the Mission of San Miguel de Linares and likely built the first Catholic church in the state. Over the next century and half, Catholicism expanded in the state. Here in Caddo Parish, French and Spanish missionaries served the early settlers in the area. One of these missionaries, Father John Pierre, supervised the building of the first Holy Trinity Church in 1857, which was a wood-frame structure. The next year, the second church was built and this time it was a brick building. The congregation grew steadily in the coming years, prompting the eventual construction of the present church building in 1899.

Erected in 1899, Holy Trinity Catholic Church is one of the state's finest and most elaborate examples of Romanesque Revival ecclesiastical architecture (there are also some Gothic elements as well). It is the third church built for the congregation, which was established in 1856. The church features a number of notable design elements including a red brick and terra-cotta facade, two free-standing round towers with conical tops, arches, four large rose windows (there are 60 stained glass windows in all), and buttresses attached to the towers. As for the interior, it features a Byzantine-Romanesque main altar built in 1912, decorative interior paintwork, and a 55-foot dome.

Holy Trinity Catholic Church

The history of the Shreveport Library system dates back to when a group of women opened Shreveport's first library in 1890 in a small building located on Crockett Street. A group of men later opened another library called Mechanics Library. These libraries merged in 1901 to form the "People's Library" and it was located inside a courthouse. The Main Library was first located in the Old Custom House building, which was erected in 1887 and torn down in 1910. A new Main Library was built in 1923 and it is now Chamber of Commerce. The Main Library moved into the federal building in 1980 after a couple of years of renovation. The building was added tot the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.

Now the Main Library of the Shreveport library system, the former United States Post Office and Courthouse is significant for its architecture and association with the federal government. It was built in 1912 and designed by James Knox Taylor (1857-1912), who was Supervising Architect of the Treasury Department from 1897-1912, in the Italian Renaissance style. A fourth floor was added in 1931 under the direction of Acting Supervising Architect James A. Wetmore (1863-1940), who was not a trained architect but rather oversaw a large staff of architects who designed federal buildings. The building features arched windows, a stuccoed brick and limestone facade, strong horizontal lines, terra cotta window trim, and other decorative elements. Although it's no longer a federal building today, it is reminder of the important role the federal government has played in Shreveport's history. 

United States Post Office and Courthouse

Louisiana seceded from the United States and fought with the Confederacy during the Civil War. Shreveport was a major departmental and logistical hub for regional Confederate forces and served as the capital of Louisiana during the latter part of the Civil War. Several major battles occurred near Shreveport, including the 1864 Battles of Mansfield and Pleasant Hill. In 1902, local women of the Shreveport Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy (UDC) began discussing the possibility of erecting a monument to Louisiana's Confederate veterans. As the years rolled on, more Civil War veterans passed away. The UDC sought to honor these veterans while time remained, while also leaving a monument to carry their legacy into the future. Yet historians have shown that the UDC and other Southern veterans' organizations often promoted the "Lost Cause," a reference to the idea that the Southern cause of defending antebellum culture and institutions, including slavery, was just. These groups deny the connection between slavery and the Civil War, lionize Confederate officers, soldiers, and women, and downplay the nature of Confederate military defeat. These Lost Cause tenets are evident in both the monument itself and its dedication. The UDC, with the help of the local Caddo Parish Police Jury, managed to raise $10,000 and contracted sculptor Frank Teich to craft the monument. An exceptional sculptor, Teich developed a thriving business in Confederate monuments. He crafted many (if not most) of the Confederate monuments in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas, and as scholars Cynthia Mills and Pamela Simpson noted, he was one of six "key image makes of Confederate Memory."[2] The 30-foot tall, Texas granite monument Teich sculpted was certainly grand and compares favorably with other major Confederate monuments in New Orleans. Atop a central pillar stands a Confederate private standing vigil; inscribed on the pillar reads "Lest We Forget" and "Confederate." At the base of the pillar stand a representation of Clio, the female muse of history in Greek lore. Surrounding the pillar are busts of four prominent Confederate leaders: Generals Robert E. Lee and Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson (arguably the Confederacy's most well-known military leaders), General P.G.T. Beauregard (Louisiana's most notable general), and General and Governor Henry Watkins Allen (Louisiana's wartime governor). As was common across the post-war South, the monument's dedication in the spring of 1906 proved a major civic affair. Thousands attended the event, including hundreds of Confederate veterans. The keynote speaker was Methodist Reverend Dr. W.T. Bolling whose speech reflected Lost Cause denial of slavery as the war's cause: "The men who went forth to battle under this banner were not actuated by hate, by desire for conquest, or to maintain the institution of slavery, but battled for what they believed to be a great fundamental doctrine, a foundation principle in a government founded upon the consent of the governed."[2] In 1936, the 46th reunion of Confederate veterans was held in Shreveport, and a tablet was added to the foot of Shreveport's Confederate monument reading, "Louisiana and Shreveport's tribute of honor and respect, memorializing the deeds and valor of the men who so gallantly, nobly, and conscientiously defended the cause of 1861-65."[2] In recent years, more and more Americans view this kind of celebratory monument and others that attempt to lionize Confederate leaders as remnants of white supremacy. Supporters of the monument said it symbolizes Southern heritage and argue that removing the monument is tantamount to deleting history. There have been calls for the monument's removal from courthouse grounds. As local activist Pastor Linus Mayes noted, "The statue, itself, brings with it, a bit of hatred, white supremacy, systemic racism...This is what we see as African-Americans when we get ready to go into the courthouse."[4] On October 20, 2017, the Caddo Parish Commissioners voted to remove the controversial Confederate monument from the Caddo Parish Courthouse. The 7-5 decision came after nine months of community meetings and heated debate that continued during the commission meeting. Members of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, the women's organization that erected the monument in the early 1900s, hopes that a federal judge will block removal. The prospect of a Confederate heritage organization requesting federal assistance, like the monument itself, demonstrates that historical perspectives change over time. In July 2018, a federal judge dismissed the UDC's lawsuit and supported the local government's decision to remove the monument.  Following extensive legal battles and negotiations, in the summer of 2020, Caddo Parish and the UDC finally agreed to relocate the monument to private land near a Civil War battlefield in neighboring DeSoto Parish. The removal timeline has yet to be determined.

This Caddo Parish Confederate Monument was funded by the local United Daughters of the Confederacy (UDC) and dedicated in 1906. The monument features a large central pillar with a Confederate soldier atop. A depiction of Clio, the muse of history, stands as the pillar's base, and the pillar is surrounded by busts of Confederate leaders Robert E. Lee, Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson, P.G.T. Beauregard, and Henry W. Allen. The monument and its dedication highlight aspects of "Lost Cause" ideology, which dismisses slavery as the Civil War's cause and lionizes Confederate soldiers and leaders. In 2020, following a long legal process, Caddo Parish and the UDC agreed to remove the monument to private land on a nearby battlefield.

Caddo Parish Confederate Monument 

The museum's permanent African collection consists of art and artifacts from primarily countries of West Africa including Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Congo, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Mali, Nigeria and South Africa. These include functional items such as ceremonial masks, statues, fabric, and utensils. Numbering more than 300 items, these items were collected by Dr. Tarver and another professor, Dr. William Bertrand. The African American collection consists of art from the Southern University Museum of Art in Baton Rouge. Highlights from this collection includes prints created by master artists Phoebe Beasley, John Biggers, and Howard Smith that depict poems by many notable poets such as Langston Hughes and Maya Angelou. In addition to the exhibits, the museum offers a variety of educational programs and events, as well as living history performances depicting notable African Americans historical figures such as Harriet Tubman and Booker T. Washington.

Located in downtown Shreveport, the Southern University Museum of Art is the only museum in northern Louisiana dedicated to preserving and promoting art of the African and African American diaspora. It was established in 2002 in large part by Dr. Leon Tarver II, President Emeritus of the university and is the sister museum of the Southern University Museum of Art in Baton Rouge, which Tarver founded in 2001. The museum features permanent, special and traveling exhibits.

Southern University Museum of Art-Shreveport

The Strand Theatre was constructed in 1925.1 The theatre was founded as a result of the Saenger company’s desire to compete in the booming film industry.2 While the Strand’s original motivations for being created have evolved over time, switching from an emphasis on film to an emphasis on performing arts, the theatre has maintained a good rapport with the people of Shreveport, Louisiana.The land for the Strand Theatre was bought in 1919 by the Saenger Company and the Ehrlich Brothers.3 The Ehrlich Brothers had previously built Shreveport’s Grand Opera House in 1888.4 The plans for the theatre’s construction were signed on September 17, 1923.5 The building was constructed by Emile Weil, who also constructed the Strand Theatre located in New Orleans, Louisiana.6 From the start, the theatre was set up to succeed. Since film was an emerging, popular industry, and the Saenger Company had already built Shreveport’s Grand Opera House, there was an air of security regarding the theatre’s success.7 Almost as soon as the theatre’s construction finished, it aired its first shows. The theatre was founded on competing in the film industry, and the first show that the Strand Theatre held was a comic opera.8Over the next few decades, the &nbsp;Saenger company altered the appearance of the Strand Theatre, since business had been declining.9 The big chandelier that once adorned the auditorium was removed and the panels that dressed the exterior were changed.10 Since movies were just starting and were new, people at the time felt more compelled to go cinemas. ABC Interstates Theatres bought out the Strand Theatre in 1970.11 The motives for ABC Interstate Theatres buying the Strand are not known. The Strand faced closure at the time of the purchase. ABC Interstate was most likely trying to save the once thriving company so that it might be able to make profit off it. Whatever the case, ABC’s efforts were not sufficient enough to keep the theatre alive. In 1977, ABC Interstate Theatres donated the Strand Theatre to Strand Theatre Company, a nonprofit dedicated to restoring the Strand Theatre.12 The company was started by Jim Montgomery, a local philanthropist.13 He helped to pay for the restoration of the Strand and bring it to its original glory.14After acquiring the Strand, the nonprofit got busy. Though the company wanted to restore the theatre, its goal as a whole was to make the theatre into a performing arts center.15 The company felt that with such a grand space to fill an audience, the theatre would be put to better use if it reverted back to its roots. The Strand Theatre Company installed a new chandelier in the auditorium and even replaced the design of the exterior.16 The only downside to the restoration was that it reduced the amount of people that the auditorium could hold. The original maximum capacity was 2,250 people, but with all of the alterations made, the auditorium now only holds 1,636 people.17The Strand Theatre is still open to this day, but has not received any recent renovations. All of the shows that are performed at the theatre are now performing arts shows. For supplemental reading, the theatre has its own website, “The Strand Theatre,” which lists details for all of their current shows and history.18 For further reading into what all went down to help bring the Strand Theatre back up and have a better understanding of why it was so important, Jim Montgomery’s “Ladies and Gentlemen. . . The Strand” offers a broader understanding.19

The Strand Theatre was officially constructed in 1925. The theatre was founded as a result of the Saenger company’s desire to compete in the booming film industry. While the Strand’s original motivations for being created have evolved over time, switching from an emphasis on film to an emphasis on performing arts, the theatre has maintained a good rapport with the people of Shreveport, Louisiana.

Strand Theatre, Shreveport

The auditorium was built as a memorial to the service members who participated in World War I. Fittingly, it was dedicated on November 11, which is Armistice Day, the day the war officially ended. For a time after it was built, the auditorium was used as barracks for troops and it also housed a radar aircraft warning system. By the time Louisiana Hayride first aired on the KWKH station in Shreveport, the station was already well-established, having been in operation since 1922. It aired country music from the beginning but it became known around the country in 1927 when the Jimmie Davis Show started and popularized the song "You Are My Sunshine." Soon, more and more artists began to perform on KWKH. During the 1930s, it established itself as one of the nation's top stations for country music.Louisiana Hayride debuted on April 3, 1948 in the auditorium. It was known as a "barn dance" show, which consisted of a variety of country music performances and comedic and other kinds of acts. Barn-dance shows grew in popularity during the 1930s and reached its peaked in the years after World War II. Louisiana Hayride was an immediate success and remained very popular for a decade. Reasons for its success possibly include the mixture of cultures that existed in the region (Shreveport had been an important geographic crossroads for a long time) and the fact that people tended to have more money to spend, thanks to the booming oil and gas industry. Other possible factors for its popularity were that it aired on Saturday evening and was the only thing to do, it used a powerful broadcast channel and could be heard as far as the Pacific Ocean, and it took chances on musicians who performed new styles.As stated above, many famous country artists got there start here at the auditorium when they performed on the show. Arguably the most notable of these was Elvis Presley, who made his debut on October 16, 1954. He signed a contract to perform on every show and did so for 18 months, developing his techniques and style that would become famous around the country (a statue of him stands outside of the building). Other famous artists who got their big break here included Hank Williams, Kitty Wells, and Johnny Cash. A number of famous African-American musicians performed here as well including blues artist Huddie "Leadbelly" Ledbetter, James Brown, Aretha Franklin, and B.B. King.

Built in the 1929 and designed by architect Samuel Weiner, the Shreveport Municipal Auditorium is one of the city's most important landmarks. It is so significant, in fact, that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a National Historic Landmark. Its significance lies in its its Modernistic architecture and for the role it played in popularizing and shaping country music. In terms of architecture, the building features an elaborate decorative brick and limestone exterior. Notable interior decorative elements include bas-relief panels and an Egyptian-styled entrance opening to the lobby. The auditorium has over 3000 seats and features a decorative ceiling. As for the building's association with American music, it was here that many famous talented American artists got there start—including stars such as Elvis Presley, Hank Williams, and Johnny Cash—on a radio show called "Louisiana Hayride," which ran from 1948-1960. Many of these artists would go on to perform at the Grand Ole Opry show in Nashville, Tennessee. In this way, the show served as a springboard to stardom and it became known as the "cradle of the stars." Today, the auditorium remains a vibrant entertainment venue.

 the building was dedicated to the soldiers of World War I on Veterans’ Day, which was known at that time as Armistice Day. 

In its early years, the auditorium played host to the military by serving as barracks for the troops and housing the early aircraft warning system known today as radar. In terms of architecture, the building 

Shreveport Municipal Auditorium

In addition to being privately owned, the house has been used as a boarding house, church, and radio station. In recent years, former owners Billy and Vicki LeBrun restored it and offered tours through the entire mansion, even in the attic. They also rented it for events and hosted Halloween and Christmas tours. The mansion, which has four bedrooms and two full and two half bathrooms, is also apparently haunted by the ghost of 11-year old Theodora Hunt, who jumped from a window in 1904. The house is located across the street from another historic residence, the Ogilvie-Wiener Mansion, and is just a short walk from the famed Shreveport Municipal Auditorium where Elvis Presley and other notable artists jumpstarted the careers.

The Logan Mansion is one of Shreveport's finest examples of Queen Anne architecture. It was built in 1897 by its namesake, Lafayette R. Logan, who was a prominent local beer distributor and ice manufacturer. The architect who designed it was Nathaniel Sykes. The exterior house features decorative woodwork and a large porch, among other notable elements. The interior is even more impressive; it features ornate woodwork, stained and beveled glass, a grand mahogany staircase, large rooms, hand-laid geometric wood floors, and antique furnishings. The house is currently privately owned but is also an Airbnb, offering guests the opportunity to stay in a historic residence.  

Logan Mansion

Antioch Baptist church is located in Shreveport Louisiana. Antioch Baptist Church was founded April 23, 1866 and originally named First Colored Baptist Church. After a storm destroyed the original building it was reconstructed 1903 on Texas Ave in what is now down town Shreveport. The church has changed its name over the centuries from Union Missionary Baptist church to its name today&nbsp; Antioch Baptist Church and it is the home of Shreveport’s oldest African American congregation. Antioch Baptist church gave birth to four other Baptist churches in the city of Shreveport: Avenue Baptist Church, Evergreen Baptist Church, Trinity Baptist Church, and Union Missionary Baptist Church. Antioch Baptist church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.

 Antioch Baptist Church is the home of Shreveport’s oldest African American congregation. 

Antioch Baptist Church

Bishop Leonidas Polk led the first Episcopalian service in Shreveport on March 24, 1839. In 1845, the first Episcopalian congregation was established and built a church at what is now the intersection of Market and Fannin Streets. The congregation built St. Mark's in 1905 and remained there until 1953 when a new church was built away from downtown. However, a group of 126 members from St. Mark's congregation decided to stay and established Holy Cross in 1954. They wanted to keep serving the area, which was started to decline as people moved to the suburbs. The congregation continues this mission today, serving the underserved population in the neighborhood.

Erected in 1905, the Church of the Holy Cross is an interesting and striking example of Gothic Revival architecture. It was originally known as St. Mark's Episcopal Church before becoming Church of the Holy Cross (an Episcopalian congregation) in 1954. The church, which is two stories tall with a three-story bell tower, was built with red brick and resembles an English parish church. Notable features include a French rose window, lancet arches, stained glass windows, decorative brickwork, and crenelation (on the bell tower and chapel behind it) that gives the building a castle-like appearance. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1991.



Church of the Holy Cross 

Jewish settlers, many from France and Germany, began to arrive in Shreveport in the 1850s. They formed a small congregation in 1857 and worshiped in a home. They chose the name Congregation Har-El in 1861. After the Civil War, the congregation changed its name to Hebrew Zion. In general, it adhered to the Reform movement but some members were traditional. Its first temple was built in 1870 and was located on Fannin Street between Edwards and Market Streets.The congregation expanded in the coming years, growing to 150 members by 1910. Needing a larger space, they built the current temple building in 1915 after several years of planning and named it B'nai Zion. After World War II, the congregation grew to 308 members and kept growing, which prompted the construction of a new temple in 1955. By 1962, the congregation grew to 430 members. The congregation sold the temple on Cotton Street to the Knights of Columbus, which owned it for a number of years. A private foundation made some basic repairs to the building in 1993. However, the building has not been well-maintained in recent years and is in need of substantial repair.

B'Nai Zion Temple is one of the more beautiful and recognizable landmarks in Shreveport. Constructed in 1915, the temple is a rare and excellent example of Beaux-Arts architecture which was popular around the country in the early 20th century. The three-story building features a large portico with Corinthian columns at the main entrance, the Star of David inscribed above the entrance, and two-story stained glass windows. The interior features an elaborate design and large worship space.  The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1997.

B'Nai Zion Temple

In addition to its architecture, Central Fire Station also is significant for its association with the city's fire fighting history. Like other young communities, the first fire fighting organization, called Germainia, was a volunteer fire company established in 1849. Other volunteer companies were formed in the coming years and they gradually acquired larger water pumpers. Large underground water reservoirs were also built and some of these apparently still exist. Finally, in 1891, the city assumed control of the volunteer companies and officially established the fire department, hiring its first fire fighters. The department grew and the city built Central Fire Station in 1922. A few years later in 1925, the city saw its worst fire in its history when a house fire spread over nine city blocks, destroying 194 houses. Fortunately, no on died. Eventually, the fire company moved to a new building. It is not readily apparent what happened next but it has been remodeled to meet the needs of the Shreveport Regional Arts Council.

Now home to the Shreveport Regional Arts Council, the former Central Fire Station is one of the many architecturally significant buildings in downtown Shreveport. Built in 1922, it was designed by Clarence W. King in the Beaux-Arts and Italian Renaissance styles. It features a number of decorative elements including roof resembling those found on Italian Renaissance palaces; bas relief panels depicting urns, griffins, and shields; several cartouches; large recessed windows and doors; and owl sculptures on the roof at each corner. Next to the building stands a five-story tall hose-drying tower, which was also built in 1922, and a large dalmatian dog sculpture.

Central Fire Station

The temple was built by the local chapter of the Scottish Rite Freemasons, a fraternal (male) social and philanthropic organization that was established in England in the 18th century. Here in Shreveport, a group of Scottish Rite members met for the first time in 1910 at another temple located on the corner of Market and Travis Streets. In 1912, they started to plan for the construction of the current building and the work got underway in 1915. The building features many original light fixtures, furnishings, and 92 hand-painted stage backdrops. Another highlight is the Pilcher and Sons Pipe Organ, which is still used today. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986.

Designed by architect Edward F. Neild, the Scottish Rite Temple is one of downtown Shreveport's most impressive landmarks. It was built in 1917 and is a fine and fully developed example of Beaux-Arts architecture. The building appears to be two-stories tall but it has a basement and third-story mezzanine. It features numerous decorative elements including an elaborate front entrance with large Corinthian columns. The interior features a large auditorium, library, a banquet hall, and a matching marble staircases. Neild was a Scottish Rite freemason, a prominent architect, and a friend of President Harry Truman for many years. Truman was impressed with Neild's work and commissioned him to design the Jackson County Courthouse in Missouri and also major renovations of the White House (Truman also commissioned Neild to design the plans for the Truman Memorial Library but Neild passed away before he was finished). The Temple is available to rent for weddings and other events.  

Scottish Rite Temple

For much of the city's early history—it was founded in 1835—shipping commerce drove Shreveport's economy. It's location on the Red River was ideal as goods could be transported to and from the Mississippi River. Trade via the Mississippi remained strong for several decades which, along with other factors, slowed the introduction of railroads to Louisiana, and many that were built during these years were feeder railways to the Mississippi (i.e. they served local, rural areas). By 1900, however, railroads did eventually replace river shipping as the main form of transportation in Louisiana. As a result, Shreveport became a key regional railroad hub.Railroading was critical to Shreveport's growth and development in the early 20th century. Several railroad companies operated here. There were once a large passenger station (Union Depot) and each railroad had its own freight depots and round houses. Some railroads even built their own passenger depots. After World War II, railroading declined in Shreveport and around the country as cars, trucks and planes took over as the primary modes of transportation. Central Station closed in 1955 as a result. In the coming years it became a warehouse and later a restaurant before becoming a nightclub that caters to the region's LGBTQ community.

Central Railroad Station is a historic passenger train depot built in 1910 by the Louisiana and Arkansas Railroad. The station was designed combining the Spanish Mission and Italian Renaissance style and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1991. Notable features include a square tower, an entrance pavilion with a large arch, awnings attached to the exterior wall, and a red tile roof. In addition to its architectural importance, the station serves as a reminder of the important role railroading once played in Shreveport's history. In fact, little remains of the city's railroading history, which adds to Central Station's historical significance. Today, Central Station is home to a nightclub.

Downtown Shreveport Louisiana History and Culture Walking Tour

Downtown Shreveport YMCA

Introduction

Images

Backstory and Context

Sources

Additional Information