The Cane River National Heritage Area is a United States

National Heritage Area In the United States, a National Heritage Area (NHA) is a site designated by Act of Congress, intended to encourage historic preservation of the area and an appreciation of the history and heritage of the site. There are currently 62 NHAs, som ...

in the state of Louisiana. The heritage area is known for plantations featuring Creole

architecture Architecture is the art and technique of designing and building, as distinguished from the skills associated with construction. It is both the process and the product of sketching, conceiving, planning, designing, and constructing buildings ...

, as well as numerous other sites that preserve the multi-cultural history of the area. The heritage area includes the town of Natchitoches, Louisiana and its national historic district. Founded in 1714, it is the oldest community in the territory covered by the Louisiana Purchase.

Cane River Creole National Historical Park Established in 1994, the Cane River Creole National Historical Park serves to preserve the resources and cultural landscapes of the Cane River region in Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana. Located along the Cane River Lake, the park is approximatel ...

, including areas of

Magnolia ''Magnolia'' is a large genus of about 210 to 340The number of species in the genus ''Magnolia'' depends on the taxonomic view that one takes up. Recent molecular and morphological research shows that former genera ''Talauma'', ''Dugandiodendr ...

and Oakland plantations, also is within the heritage area. The park and the St. Augustine Catholic Church in Natchez have been included as featured destinations on the state's

Louisiana African American Heritage Trail Louisiana African American Heritage Trail (french: Sentier de l'héritage afro-américain de la Louisiane) is a cultural heritage trail with 38 sites designated by the state of Louisiana, from New Orleans along the Mississippi River to Baton Rou ...

. The roughly Cane River National Heritage Area begins just south of Natchitoches and extends south and west for about 35 miles (56 kilometers along

Cane River Lake Cane River Lake (french: Lac de la rivière aux Cannes) is a 35 mi (56 km) oxbow lake formed from a portion of the Red River in Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana, United States. It runs throughout the Natchitoches' historic district to ...

and Interstate 49 to Monette's Ferry. Other sites in the heritage area include the Kate Chopin House and the state historic sites o
Los Adaes State Historic Site

Fort Jesup Fort Jesup, also known as Fort Jesup State Historic Site or Fort Jesup or Fort Jesup State Monument, was built in 1822, west of Natchitoches, Louisiana, to protect the United States border with New Spain and to return order to the Neutral Strip. ...

, an
Fort St. Jean Baptiste State Historic Site

External links

Official Cane River National Heritage Area websiteNational Park Service: Official Cane River Creole National Historical Park website

National Park Service: Cane River National Heritage Area
— ''NPS "Discover Our Shared Heritage" Travel Itinerary''.
National Park Service: Shared Legacies in Cane River National Heritage Area: Linking People, Traditions, and Landscapes

Louisiana Travel.com: Louisiana's African American Heritage Trail
National Heritage Areas of the United States Protected areas of Louisiana Geography of Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana Louisiana African American Heritage Trail Louisiana culture National Park Service areas in Louisiana Tourist attractions in Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana {{Louisiana-geo-stub