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Situated about half-way between Alexandria and Shreveport on the banks of beautiful Cane River is Natchitoches, the home of Northwestern State University.
The parish seat of Natchitoches Parish, the City of Natchitoches was incorporated on February 5, 1819, making it the oldest permanent settlement in the Louisiana Purchase.
Within easy driving distance are communities such as Cloutierville, Many, Coushatta, Melrose, Montgomery, Chopin, Campti, and Winnfield.
We have strong connections with Natchitoches: we've had family members enrolled at Northwestern, family living in town, and we've attended literary rallies on the NSU campus.
Plus, we've driven through town and across Cane River hundreds of times journeying from Alexandria to Shreveport, and attended the Christmas Festival of the Lights.
Tourism is a large, vibrant industry in this area, with the Natchitoches downtown historic district, nearby hunting & fishing, Melrose Plantation tours, bed & breakfast homes, annual tour of homes, and more to see and do. The National Historic Landmark District includes 33 blocks in the heart of Natchitoches.
In addition, the Cane River National Heritage Trail has become a popular destination, linking various historical sites and area plantations.
Natchitoches has long been known for its famous Christmas Festival of Lights along the river. We've attended this exciting event over the years, and have fond memories of the parades and fireworks.
click for detailed schedule and information from the official website of the Festival of the Lights
NSU was founded in 1884 as the Louisiana State Normal School to train teachers. It was the first school in Louisiana to offer degree programs in nursing and business education.
Today, it has an enrollment of over 9,000 students at its main campus in Natchitoches, nursing school in Shreveport, branch campus in Leesville/Fort Polk, and campus in Alexandria.
The highly respected Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts, a state supported residential high school for sophomores, juniors and seniors, is located on the NSU campus.
For more information on the Natchitoches area and events, we encourage you to visit:
Shown below are a few images of the present in Natchitoches as seen in November, 2011 ...
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