The Cane River National Heritage Area encompasses many significant properties, including the Natchitoches National Historic Landmark District and the Cane River Creole National Historical Park. The region's special places help tell the story of the Cane River area. Explore the the area's sections in-depth, and then link to the map section to plan your travels.
Down River - The central location for the conservation and interpretation of Creole culture, the Down River area includes two plantations, 65 historic structures, and over a million artifacts that help tell the story of the evolution of plantation agriculture through the perspective of the families that founded, labored, and flourished along the Cane River for over two hundred years.
Natchitoches - The buildings, landscapes, and culture collectively tell the story of this unique part of Louisiana, Cane River National Heritage Area expresses the history from the earliest forts to plantation homes and slave quarters, to downtown commercial buildings and numerous churches scattered throughout the region.
Kisatchie National Forest - Championed by preservationist Caroline Dormon, the Kisatchie National Forest is Louisiana's only National Forest. Spanning 604,000 acres, the Kisatchie National Forest is an ideal destination for the outdoorsman.
West Side - A melding of three civilizations, Natchitoches' West Side marks the area where native Caddo Indians, colonial Spanish, and colonial French borders clashed. Following the Louisiana Purchase, the area became the western border of the United States.
