African-American Heritage Trail Itinerary: North Louisiana

Monroe Itinerary

Nestled on the banks of the Ouachita River and Bayou Desiard, Monroe-West Monroe welcomes you with great antique shopping, museums, and gardens. 

• Tour the Northeast Louisiana Delta African American Museum. It features seminars, events, and research materials on the 1960s civil rights movement in Northeast Louisiana, plus works of art by Don Cincone, Bernard Menyweather, and Agnes Hicks.
• A stop in Monroe – West Monroe would not be complete without experiencing the following:
  • Visit the Duck Commander store, from the A&E show Duck Dynasty, where you can shop for souvenirs like shirts, hats, and duck calls.
  • Learn about the rich aviation and military history at the Chennault Aviation & Military Museum of Louisiana.
  • Tour the Biedenharn Museum & Gardens with Coca-Cola memorabilia and beautiful gardens. 
  • Round out the night tasting local craft beer at Flying Tiger Brewery and sampling local wine at Landry Vineyards. 
  • Discover places to stay in Monroe.

Shreveport Itinerary

After spending time in Monroe, head west to make your way to 'Louisiana’s Other Side' in Shreveport, Louisiana. 

• Stop in Grambling at The Eddie G. Robinson Museum that recognizes the long and storied career of head football coach, Eddie G. Robinson. He was the first college football coach to record 400 victories; he spent his entire career, from 1941 to 1997, at Grambling State University. 
• Head west to downtown Shreveport and visit the Multi-Cultural Center of the South. This community center and interpretive facility features a wide array of exhibits, on the many different cultures represented in Shreveport’s population. 
• For lunch, eat a “Muffy” at Shreveport’s oldest family owned restaurant, Fertitta’s Delicatessen. 
• On Texas Street, visit the Southern University Museum of Art Shreveport, which features an impressive collection of African-American art. 
  • Also on Texas Street, the Huddie Ledbetter Statue commemorates one of Shreveport’s most famous citizens, the talented bluesman more popularly known as “Leadbelly.”
  • Tour the Shreveport Municipal Auditorium, famous for the Louisiana Hayride radio show, and later the site of performance by James Brown, Otis Redding, and other African American performers in the 1960s and 1970s.
• Other activities include visiting the Sci-Port: Louisiana’s Science Center; R.W. Norton Art Gallery; and the Shreveport Aquarium. 
• Shop on the Louisiana Boardwalk, embrace the nightlife, or try your luck at casino gaming. 
• Enjoy dinner out and then discover places to stay in Shreveport.

Learn more about the African-American Heritage Trail in Louisiana.