Built 1907 Opened 1907 Architectural style Beaux-Arts architecture | NRHP Reference # 88003225 Phone +1 318-487-8556 Added to NRHP 19 January 1989 | |
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Address 503 Washington St, Alexandria, LA 71301, USA Similar Bentley Hotel, Kent Plantation House, Alexandria Museum of Art, Alexandria Zoological Park, St Francis Xavier Cathedral | ||
The Louisiana History Museum is located in the historic downtown portion of Alexandria, Louisiana, USA, near the Red River. It showcases the social evolution of all of Louisiana, but centers on the history of Central Louisiana, Rapides Parish, and Alexandria. Major exhibit areas deal with Native Americans, Louisiana geography, politics, health care, farming, and the impact of war.
Contents
- Louisiana history museum preserving the past
- The Old Alexandria Library Building
- History
- Displays and Exhibits
- References
Louisiana history museum preserving the past
The Old Alexandria Library Building
The building housing the Museum and Alexandria Genealogical Library started life as the Alexandria Public Library in 1907. The building was constructed solely for the advancement of culture and learning in by Caldwell Brothers (contractors), and Crosby & Henkel of New Orleans (architects). It replaced an earlier library that was burned by General Nathaniel Banks' federal troops on May 13, 1864. Remodeled in 1970, restored as a Bicentennial project in 1976, and again in 2003, it now houses (upstairs) one of the largest genealogical libraries in Louisiana. The structure was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989.
History
The Louisiana History Museum was begun in 1971 by Angelique Stafford "Gic" Kraushaar. Her vision was to establish a museum in Alexandria that would not only describe the history of Louisiana but also show the unique beginnings and background of Central Louisiana.
Displays and Exhibits
There are more than fifty displays and exhibits, including: