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 26 sites designated in 2008 by the state of Louisiana, from New Orleans along the Mississippi River to Baton Rouge and Shreveport, with sites in small towns and plantations also included.[1][2] In New Orleans several sites are within a walking area. Auto travel is required to reach sites outside the city.

A variety of African-American museums devoted to art, history and culture are on the "trail", as is the Cane River Creole National Historical Park, and the first two churches founded by and for free people of color. The trail includes two extensive plantation complexes, with surviving slave quarters used by people who lived and worked at the plantations until 1930 in one case, and into the 1960s at the other. Two historically black universities are also on the trail.[1][2]

Mitch Landrieu, as Lieutenant Governor, supported the establishment of the cultural heritage trail in order to highlight the many contributions of African Americans to the culture of Louisiana and the United States; and to promote these sites as destinations for tourism, which is increasingly important to the state's economy. (Since 2010, Landrieu has been serving as Mayor of New Orleans.)

Historic sites

Included are:

Congo Square;
New Orleans African American Museum;
St. Augustine Church (New Orleans), Tremé;
St. Louis Cemeteries No. 1 and No. 2;
French Market; and
Amistad Research Center, Tulane University

See also

References

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