Forts Randolph and Buhlow State Historic Site

Walk through Civil War history at these central Louisiana forts.

Boardwalks at Fort Randolph and Buhlow State Historic Site

Take in the beauty from the boardwalks near the Red River at Forts Randolph and Buhlow State Historic Site.

Fort Randolph and Buhlow State Historic Site

Cannons at Forts Randolph and Buhlow State Historic Site.

Spring of 1864 was one of the Civil War’s bloodiest. The Battle of Spotsylvania Court House, second only to Gettysburg in casualties, occurred in May that year. The far lesser-known Battle of Mansfield, central to the story of Forts Randolph and Buhlow State Historic Site, took place in rural northwest Louisiana just a month earlier. The Confederacy won an important victory at Mansfield. In fact, it was the decisive battle of the Red River Campaign in north Louisiana, causing Union soldiers to retreat 100 miles back to Alexandria. With the war raging in Louisiana and Union soldiers hoping to advance toward Shreveport, Confederate brass knew they needed to defend settlements in central Louisiana. They determined that Pineville, Alexandria’s neighbor, was well-positioned for building two new defensive structures. They were named Forts Randolph and Buhlow.

The two forts were completed the following March. The Rebels were ready for battle and had even positioned a warship, the ironclad Missouri, in the Red River near Fort Randolph. However, no battles materialized, thanks to the war ending just two months later.

Visitors to Forts Randolph and Buhlow State Historic Site are welcomed by a beautiful elevated boardwalk near the banks of the Red River. Walk to the overlook near the Bailey’s Dam site,  and see the Red River which served as a major waterway during the late Civil War. Guided tours are offered, and the visitor’s center holds an exhibit on the Red River Campaign that will give you a good idea of what was at stake for Louisiana during the war.

Nearby in Alexandria — central Louisiana’s largest city — get up close with furry friends at Alexandria Zoological Park and check out the Alexandria Museum of Art.

Entrance fee: $4 per person; free for seniors age 62 and older, and children age 3 and under.