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black and white photograph depicting and old skyscraper and several downtown buildings

The Ardis Johnson Building

  In the early 1900s, commerce in Shreveport was focused around downtown. The city center developed rapidly and the buildings that sprang up housed any number of important (and maybe not so) businesses. The Ardis Building—then Ardis-Johnson Building, and today the Johnson Building—was Shreveport’s third major office building and one of the largest skyscrapers dotting […]

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black and white photo of old brick building of Morris & Dickson drug store in Shreveport, Louisiana

Morris Dickson: The Little Apothecary That Could

From a small town apothecary to one of the most successful drug wholesalers, the Morris Dickson pharmaceutical building on Travis St. is one of the most iconic to grace the downtown cityscape. Founded in 1841, this historic building practically grew up with Shreveport and is one of the city’s first established businesses that is still […]

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Edward Jacobs Started the First National Bank of Shreveport

Edward Jacobs: The Ghostly Banker of Shreveport? Meet Edward Jacobs, the founder of one of the wealthiest financial institutions of Shreveport during his time. First National Bank of Shreveport flourished at its former downtown location, conducting business with many prominent community members.  Jacobs journeyed from Pomerania with very little to create the successful company near […]

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Leonidas Polk Spreads Episcopalianism in Louisiana

From Virtue to Violence: Leonidas Polk’s Convergence of God and War Louisiana’s religious sector stems partially from Leonidas Polk’s work of spreading biblical teachings across the state, including making contributions to Episcopalians in Shreveport. Years later, Polk joined the ranks of the Army of the Confederate States of America, fighting the Union to preserve slavery […]

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