Louisiana History Museum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Old Alexandria Public Library: Houses Louisiana History Museum
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 Location in Louisiana
Location in the United States
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| Location | 503 Washington Alexandria, Louisiana |
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| Built | 1907 |
| Architect | Crosby & Henkel; Caldwell Bros. |
| Architectural style | Beaux Arts |
| NRHP reference No. | 88003225 |
| Added to NRHP | January 19, 1989 |
The Louisiana History Museum is a cool place to learn about the past. It is located in downtown Alexandria, Louisiana, right by the Red River. This museum tells the story of all of Louisiana. It especially focuses on the history of Central Louisiana, Rapides Parish, and Alexandria. You can explore exhibits about Native Americans, Louisiana's land, how the government works, health care, farming, and the impact of wars.
A Historic Home for History
The building where the museum is located has a long history itself! It first opened in 1907 as the Alexandria Public Library. It was built to help people learn and grow. The Caldwell Brothers were the contractors, and Crosby & Henkel of New Orleans were the architects. This new library replaced an older one that was sadly burned down during the American Civil War on May 13, 1864.
The building has been updated several times over the years. It was remodeled in 1970 and restored in 1976 as a Bicentennial project. Another restoration happened in 2003. Today, the upstairs part of the building holds one of the biggest family history libraries in Louisiana. Because of its importance, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989.
How the Museum Started
The Louisiana History Museum began in 1971. A person named Angelique Stafford "Gic" Kraushaar had a great idea. She wanted to create a museum in Alexandria. Her goal was to show not only the history of Louisiana but also the special beginnings of Central Louisiana. Thanks to her vision, we have this amazing museum today!
What You Can See at the Museum
The museum has more than fifty different displays and exhibits. Here are some of the interesting things you can learn about:
- The first people of Louisiana, the Native Americans.
- How the town of Alexandria was planned in 1805 by Alexander Fulton.
- When Louisiana was ruled by Spain, France, and England.
- Famous people from Louisiana, like Governor Murphy J. Foster, Jr..
- The American Revolution, which helped America become independent.
- The American Civil War, a very important time in U.S. history.
- How a special dam was built on the Red River during the Civil War by General Joseph Bailey.
- Camp Beauregard, a United States Army training camp during World War I.
- The Louisiana Maneuvers and Camp Claiborne in Alexandria during World War II. These were big military training exercises.
- Important politicians from Central Louisiana, including Huey Long and Earl Kemp Long.
- Central Louisiana as seen in old postcards.
See also
- Louisiana State Museum – This museum has locations in Baton Rouge, New Orleans, and other places.
