Natchitoches in the Red River Valley:
Confluence of Cultures

42nd Annual Meeting of the Alliance for Historic Landscape Preservation:
Conserving Cultural Landscapes

Natchitoches, Louisiana
May 18-21, 2022

The Alliance for Historic Landscape Preservation: Conserving Cultural Landscapes met for its 2022 Annual Conference in Natchitoches, Louisiana from May 19-21, 2022.  The theme of the conference was “Natchitoches in the Red River Valley: A Confluence of Cultures.”

Front Street, Natchitoches

Come discover Natchitoches (Nac-a-tish), Louisiana, known for its Creole heritage and made famous by the movie Steel Magnolias.

Natchitoches is the oldest permanent settlement in the Louisiana Purchase. Established in 1714 by French explore Louis Juchereau de St. Denis, the settlement was the northernmost point navigable on the Red River and the easternmost point of the colonial Spanish El Camino Real de los Tejas. For over 300 years, French, Caddo Indian, Spanish, African, and American cultures have blended and shaped the Red River Valley landscape.

The area remained under French rule until 1763 when Spain acquired the region west of the Mississippi valley. The arrival of thousands of enslaved Africans and Spain’s liberal manumission policies contributed to the number of free people of color throughout Louisiana, descendants of which form todays Creoles of color in Natchitoches. France briefly regained the area in 1801 and held it until transferred to the United States as part of the Louisiana Purchase in 1803.

The conference will begin the evening of May 18, 2022, with a reception at Mariner’s Restaurant overlooking Sibley Lake. The National Center for Preservation Technology and Training (NCPTT) office, Lee Nelson Hall on the campus of Northwestern State University of Louisiana, will serve as the conference headquarters. Built in 1923 at the “Women’s Old Gym” and is the oldest building on campus. The building is named after Lee A. Nelson, a pioneer of preservation architecture with the National Park Service. The historic gymnasium has been adapted for use as a meeting room and it will host our presentation sessions.

Lee Nelson Hall, Northwestern State University

On Thursday, May 19, we will begin with presentations in the morning. We will then take off for a compelling tour of the Texas and Pacific Railroad Station in downtown Natchitoches. Vacant since 1970, the building is being adapted to serve as the Visitor Center for Cane River Creole National Historical Park (CARI). CARI and the City of Natchitoches have entered into an agreement to create the Visitor Center. We will hear from the Superintendent of this National Historical Park about the future for the building and relationships with the City.

Double row of former slave/tenant farmer houses with remnant gardens at Magnolia Plantation

On Friday, we will hit the road early and head to Magnolia Plantation, which is also part of CARI NHP. The Superintendent will share plans for the historic landscape of the plantation’s big house. We will visit the plantation’s remaining brick slave and tenement quarters and see a demonstration of bousillage wall construction created with Spanish moss and straw or other vegetal binder.

Next, we will head to St. Augustine Church, the cultural center of Cane River's historic Créoles of color community. A Creole community leader will tell us about Cane River Créoles and we will have the opportunity to tour the church and cemetery. St. Augustine Church was also the location of Julia Robert’s wedding in the film Steel Magnolias.

Saint Augustine Church and cemetery

In the afternoon, we’ll visit Melrose Plantation, a National Historic Landmark operated by a nonprofit organization. Melrose was founded by a free person of color and in the early 1900s became an artist colony. We’ll see and learn about the large murals painted by its most famous inhabitant, Clementine Hunter. Clementine worked at the plantation house during the day and painted at night. Her work is critically acclaimed and well known in the Folk Art world.

Baptism mural by Clementine Hunter, Melrose Plantation

Our next stop will be at the Cane River Commissary for an afternoon break. This former school is now home to some yummy creole food and drink … perhaps dessert. We will then head to Oakland Plantation and learn from the Superintendent about the challenges and the opportunities of managing a large plantation landscape that includes the house and a large collection of outbuildings, including pigeoneers. The plantation also has a bottle garden where landscape beds are lined with antique bottles. While at the plantation, we will meet Elvin Shields, a son of sharecroppers who grew up on the plantation. He will share stories about life on the plantation.

Outbuildings and live oak tree at Oakland Plantation

On Saturday, we will start the day with presentations and then head to downtown Natchitoches for lunch. We will ease our pace and spend a bit of time visiting shops and sites downtown, including the Minor Basilica of Immaculate Conception and the Kaffie-Frederick General Store, the oldest operating general store in Louisiana. There will be opportunities to visit sets from the movie Steel Magnolias, including the river front, the Lemee House, and the American Cemetery, the oldest cemetery in the Louisiana Purchase.

Cane River Brewing Company

The conference will close with the Annual Banquet at the Cane River Brewing Company. The brewery is in a refurbished cotton gin built on the shore of the Cane River.

Downtown Natchitoches along the Cane River

Accommodations

There are a number of B&Bs in Natchitoches as well as other lodging options in town and at the interstate including hotels and motels.  

Rooms at the conference rate of $99/night plus tax are available at the B & Bs listed below. To book a room, call Angela at 1-800-441-8343 and mention the National Park Service. The room cost does not include breakfast.

Nota bene: A breakfast buffet will be served at the conference venue and is included with your registration.

Judge Porter House

321 Second St. (.5 miles from NCPTT/conference location)

https://www.judgeporterhouse.com/

Andrew Morris House

422 Second Street (.7 miles from NCPTT/conference location)

https://www.andrewmorrishouse.com/ 

Violet Hill

917 Washington Street (1.3 miles from NCPTT/conference location) 

https://www.violethillbandb.com/

It is also helpful to know that there are no shuttles to Natchitoches nor is there public transportation in the town. With the possible exception of Violet Hill, all of the B & B’s are within walking distance from NCPTT, the meeting venue.

Getting There

There are two airports about an hour from Natchitoches: Alexandria International Airport (AEX), approx. 53 miles, and Shreveport Regional Airport (SHV), approx. 77 miles.  More flights come in and out of the Shreveport each day, so for that reason flying into Shreveport is recommended.  However, prices can vary between the two airports, sometimes significantly, so cost is also a factor. Please check flights to/from both airports that best suits your travel needs.

Rental cars are located onsite at both airports.

If you need a ride to/from either airport you can add your information to the  AHLP 2022 Rideshare spreadsheet.   Also include your information if you can provide a ride.  In addition to members helping members, there may be additional transportation help from NCPTT staff.  

If you have a question before you book your travel, please contact Debbie Smith at debbie_smith@nps.gov 

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