Experiencing Louisiana's Rich Culture With These Cultural Destinations

Louisiana's Rich History

Louisiana has had a long period of history that shaped the rich culture of the state today. It has seen several civilizations, wars, and settlements and most of them have remained preserved today to showcase the evolution of the state and its historical past that influenced the lives of its present residents.

Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville is a French-Canadian explorer who first discovered New Orleans in 1718, which is why the state had a remarkable French influence. But this is not just in terms of language and culture, as most economical sources today had also a connection to Louisiana's past such as the several plantations in the area. During earlier Louisiana, slaves worked on sugarcane and cotton plantations, which has remained as one of the state's largest industries.

Therefore, when you visit Louisiana, you can never detach it from its history that has continually shaped the lives of its local residents. Even tourists will have the opportunity to experience that culture when they visit some of its top destinations.

French Quarter

The French Quarter in Louisiana is a major point of interest. In here, you can find several historical buildings, some of which have remained in their original state. Hence, you will be able to see the architectural style of the olden times and their contribution to the state's history. These buildings have existed for such a long time that many of them have been known to have ghost hauntings. Among the old and historic sites you can visit within the French Quarter includes the St. Louis Cemetery, the St. Louis Cathedral, and the Jackson Square.

The Garden District is also quite historical, which was initially founded in the mid-19th century. Considered as a National Historic District, tourists can participate in walking tours wherein you can educate yourself more about its history. There are also tours held at plantation homes such as the Magnolia Plantation Home, Melrose Plantation, and the Oak Alley Plantation.

Musical Origins

New Orleans is the birthplace of Jazz music; therefore, it has bred several timeless musicians from the said genre. For those who appreciate jazz music, New Orleans is the best place to celebrate this genre and share the experience with a few others who also enjoy listening to jazz music.

Visit New Orleans' Preservation Hall for nightly performance from Dixieland band or simply enrich your knowledge about jazz music history. There is also an annual New Orleans Jazz Festival held during Spring for showcase of the state's finest music. Other musical festivals to look forward to all year round include the Jazz Fest and Heritage Festival.

Cultural Destinations

Plan on experiencing more of Louisiana's diverse culture? Here are places recommended for you to visit:

New Orleans Art Museum: If you appreciate American and French art, this is where you ought to visit in Louisiana. Among the artist works featured here include those of Pablo Picasso, Joan Miro, Edgar Degas, and Georges Braque. Aside from these, permanent showcases are available within the museum such as the sculpture garden, and landscape sculptures done on old oaks, camellias, and magnolias.

Ogden Museum: This one is also located in New Orleans and features the largest collection of Southern art. Among other part of the museum are dedicated to more specific areas in Louisiana's history, such as the African-American history, the Mardi Gras celebration, and many more.

Cafe du Monde in the French Quarter: Among other things, Louisiana is widely famous for its cuisine. There is also a major influence from the French from most of its cuisine, such as the famous beignet in Cafe du Monde. Other specialties that tourists will get to enjoy include jambalaya and po-boy sandwiches, beans, rice, crawfish, and other Cajun Country specialties.