Opelousas Historic District facts for kids

The Opelousas Downtown National Historic District is a special area in Opelousas, Louisiana, recognized for its old and important buildings. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989. This district includes the main courthouse square, buildings on two sides of it, and a row of buildings right next to it. Most of these buildings were once shops or offices. The oldest ones were even used as law offices! There are eighteen historic buildings here, built between about 1840 and 1939. Even though it's a small part of the historic downtown, it's famous for its many different building styles, like Greek Revival, Romanesque Revival, Italianate, Neo-classical, and Art Deco.

Amazing Architecture and History

The Opelousas National Historic District is very important for its architecture. It has the best-preserved old downtown area in all of St. Landry Parish, Louisiana. Let's explore some of the cool buildings you can find here:

Cool Buildings in the District

• Old Opelousas City Hall: This building is so special, it's also listed on the National Register of Historic Places by itself! It started as a Victorian-style market in 1888. Later, in 1932, it was completely updated in a Neo-classical style to become the City Hall. You can find it on Courthouse Square.

• St. Landry Parish Courthouse: Built in 1939, this three-story building is made of limestone and has an Art Deco design. It even has a shiny, brushed aluminum spiral staircase inside!

• Union Bank and Trust: This grand building, built around 1910, is made of stucco and terra cotta. It's Neo-classical in style and has cool features like big columns and a fancy triangle-shaped top part called a pediment. Look closely, and you might see a pelican carved into it! It's at the corner of Court and Bellevue streets.

• 122 Court Street Building: This simple commercial building from about 1930 has a fixed awning and decorative brickwork.

• New Drug Store Building: Built around 1905 on Court Street, this two-story building has detailed brickwork and some of its original shop front still visible.

• Old Federal Building: Another building listed on the National Register of Historic Places! This large building was built in 1890 and updated in 1932. It's in the Romanesque Revival style and used to be both a U.S. Courthouse and a Post Office.

• Dietlein/Savoy Building: Located at 133 East Landry Street, this brick building from 1894 has cool decorative bands with Fleur-de-lis designs. It was once Dietlein Jewelry Store and later Savoy's Barber Shop for many years.

• 129 East Landry Street: This brick building, built in 1905, has a fancy metal trim at the top with two small decorative parts sticking up.

• 123 East Landry Street: Built in 1930, this building has a decorative wall at the top, called a parapet, with a triangle shape in the middle.

• Jacobs’ Buildings - 113-115 East Landry Street: These two brick buildings were built in 1916-17 by Aaron Jacobs. One was his News Depot, and the other was rented out to different businesses. In the 1950s, they housed a sewing center and a drug store. They both have nice details and their original fixed awnings.

• Shute's Building: Built in 1924, this two-story brick building is at the corner of Court and Landry streets. It has cement trim around its windows. It replaced an older drug store that was there for many years.

• Parish Bank & Trust Company/Casanova Building: Built around 1920, this two-story brick building at 101 W. Landry Street was originally a bank. It has a carved eagle, cool patterns over two windows, and diamond designs. Over the years, it was a sheriff's office, an office supply store, and an insurance office. Today (in 2014), it's a coffee shop called Java Square Café.

• Sandoz Building: This large, two-story Italianate-style building from the 1890s has arched windows on the side and upper floor. It has been many things: a hotel, Landau's Store, Jacobs News Depot, Lemelle's Restaurant, and Seiler's Western Store. In the 1990s, it became a law firm, and today (in 2014), it's the office of lawyer William Simmons Sandoz.

• Stander Building: This one-story commercial building, built around 1930, is at 139/141 West Landry Street.

• Greco Building: This one-story brick building from 1930 is at 145 West Landry Street. It used to be the Greco Shoe Shop. Now, it's a fun old-fashioned diner, coffee, and gift shop called Back In Time.

• 19th Century Law Office: This Greek Revival style law office at 153 West Landry Street was built around 1845.

• Homer Mouton Law Office: Built around 1840, this one-story brick law office at 163 West Landry Street is the oldest building in the entire Opelousas National Historic District!