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Louisiana History Museum

Coordinates: 31°18′31″N 92°26′43″W / 31.30861°N 92.44528°W / 31.30861; -92.44528
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Old Alexandria Public Library: Houses Louisiana History Museum
Louisiana History Museum is located in Louisiana
Louisiana History Museum
Louisiana History Museum is located in the United States
Louisiana History Museum
Location503 Washington
Alexandria, Louisiana
Coordinates31°18′31″N 92°26′43″W / 31.30861°N 92.44528°W / 31.30861; -92.44528
Built1907
ArchitectCrosby & Henkel; Caldwell Bros.
Architectural styleBeaux Arts
NRHP reference No.88003225[1]
Added to NRHPJanuary 19, 1989
Scale model of the steamboat Red River
Artifacts in display cases
Chair used by Joseph Bentley, founder of the Bentley Hotel, on display

The Louisiana History Museum is located in the historic downtown portion of Alexandria, Louisiana, USA, near the Red River. It showcases the social evolution of all of Louisiana, but centers on the history of Central Louisiana, Rapides Parish, and Alexandria. Major exhibit areas deal with Native Americans, Louisiana geography, politics, health care, farming, and the impact of war.

The old Alexandria Library building

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The building housing the Museum and Alexandria Genealogical Library started life as the Alexandria Public Library in 1907. The building was constructed solely for the advancement of culture and learning in by Caldwell Brothers (contractors), and Crosby & Henkel of New Orleans (architects). It replaced an earlier library that was burned by General Nathaniel Banks' federal troops on May 13, 1864. Remodeled in 1970, restored as a Bicentennial project in 1976, and again in 2003, it now houses (upstairs) one of the largest genealogical libraries in Louisiana. The structure was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989.[2]

Museum history

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The Louisiana History Museum was begun in 1971 by Angelique Stafford "Gic" Kraushaar. Her vision was to establish a museum in Alexandria that would not only describe the history of Louisiana but also show the unique beginnings and background of Central Louisiana.

Displays and exhibits

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There are more than fifty displays and exhibits, including:

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  2. ^ Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism. "Alexandria Library Historical Marker".
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