Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve |
|
|---|---|
|
IUCN Category V (Protected Landscape/Seascape)
|
|
Barataria Preserve
|
|
 Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve
Location in Louisiana
Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | South Louisiana |
| Nearest city | New Orleans and Lafayette, Louisiana |
| Area | 22,421 acres (90.73 km2) 17,569 acres (7,110 ha) federal |
| Established | March 4, 1907 |
| Visitors | 456,666 (in 2017) |
| Governing body | National Park Service |
| Website | Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve |
The Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve helps protect the amazing nature and history of Louisiana's Mississippi River Delta area. It's named after a famous French pirate, Jean Lafitte. This special park isn't just one place; it's made up of six different sites and a main office.
Contents
Discovering Cajun Culture in Acadiana
Three parts of the park teach visitors about the unique Cajun culture. This culture grew in the Lafayette area of southern Louisiana. The Cajuns are descendants of the Acadians, who were forced to leave Canada by the British between 1755 and 1764. They settled in Louisiana after France gave the area to Spain.
- Acadian Cultural Center in Lafayette: This center helps you learn about Cajun history and traditions.
- Prairie Acadian Cultural Center in Eunice: Here, you can explore the culture of Cajuns who lived on the prairies.
- Wetlands Acadian Cultural Center in Thibodaux: This site focuses on Cajun life in the swampy, wet areas.
Exploring the Barataria Nature Preserve
|
Barataria Unit of Jean Lafitte Historical Park Historic District
|
|
 |
|
| Area | 1,855 acres (751 ha) |
|---|---|
| NRHP reference No. | 66000966 |
| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
The Barataria Preserve is located in Marrero. It teaches us about the natural environment and the history of this region. You can explore the preserve by walking on trails or taking canoe tours. You'll see forests, swamps, and marshlands. There's also an Education Center with programs for school groups and a visitor center with a film and exhibits. This area, about 1,855 acres (751 ha) large, was recognized as a historic district in 1966.
Visiting the Chalmette Battlefield
Chalmette, Louisiana is about 6 miles southeast of New Orleans. This is where you'll find the Chalmette Battlefield and National Cemetery. This important site is where the famous Battle of New Orleans took place in 1815.
The national cemetery was created after the American Civil War. It's the resting place for soldiers from the Civil War, the Indian Wars, the Spanish–American War, World War I and II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. There are very few graves from the Battle of New Orleans itself.
A visitor center offers exhibits and information about the battle. It's located near a tall monument called an obelisk. Hurricane Katrina damaged the old visitor center in 2005, but a new one has been built since then.
The French Quarter Visitor Center
The park also has a French Quarter Visitor Center in New Orleans. It's located at 419 Decatur Street (New Orleans), right in the historic French Quarter. This center helps people learn about the general history of New Orleans. It also shares information about the many different cultures found in Louisiana's Mississippi River Delta region.
The main office for the entire Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve is also in New Orleans.
How the Park Was Created
The Chalmette Monument and Grounds were first created on March 4, 1907. This was done to remember the Battle of New Orleans. In 1933, it became part of the National Park Service. Then, in 1939, it was renamed the Chalmette National Historical Park.
Both the Chalmette site and the Barataria Preserve were listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1966. Later, in 1978, the Chalmette site became part of the larger Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, which includes all the different sites you can visit today.
Images for kids
-
Kenta Canal at Barataria Preserve, Louisiana
