Interested in downtown history, in all the things that made us what we are today? Want to know more about local music, African-American, even our city’s water history? We’ve got you covered!
Twins Mike and Mark Mangham, also known as Twin Blends Photography, LLC, have started offering tours of historic Texas Street. The $10 per person tour is not held each week; the schedule can be found on their facebook page. They are generally on Saturdays and take roughly 2 hours to complete. You will walk the length of Texas Street stopping at locations along the way to see photographs of buildings and businesses long gone. Downtown Shreveport is like an archaeological dig and Twin Blends’ photographs bring the past to life. Twin Blends plans to take a vacation through the holidays, but will be back in early 2019 with more tours!
Local author, teacher and artist Robert Trudeau has started a new African-American history tour downtown. Robert’s tour is also generally on Saturdays and runs roughly two hours. His tour schedule can be found on his facebook page. Learn more about Huddie “Leadbelly” Ledbetter, the Calanthean Temple, Antioch Baptist Church and events at nearby Galilee and Little Union Baptist Churches. Return to your vehicle is generally by bus pass.
You may have missed the fine Norla Preservation Project’s 2018 Shreveport Sounds: Music History Symposium but Norla board member and musician Winston Hall is available for tours and events that feature Shreveport’s rich musical history. The list of musicians that performed in, worked in and changed the dynamic of Shreveport is amazingly long and impressive.
For year-round history, don’t forget the amazing Shreveport Water Works Museum, open at 142 North Common Street Tues-Sun each week. This National Historic, American Waterworks and Civil Engineering Landmark tells the amazingly interesting story how water influenced the early history of Shreveport. Tour guide Kevin Haines will lead you through a most remarkable tour. Free, but donations are strongly suggested. Website.
Make it a two-fer with a visit to the Spring Street Historical Museum, 525 Spring Street, open Tuesday-Saturdays. Curator Marty Loschen can quite literally tell you where all the bones are buried, and if you are very lucky, will take you into the (some say) haunted basement. Learn about the city’s Yellow Fever epidemic, the (in)famous Red Light District and More. Free, donations welcomed.
