History & Heritage in Covington Louisiana

One facet of Louisiana that makes it such an appealing visitor destination is its deep and colorful history. European explorers found their way to the region and inhabited the area very early relative to settlement of much of the rest of the continent. As a result, some communities in Louisiana are among the oldest in the United States. Before those explorers arrived, of course, people we now know as Native Americans populated the region. Reaching still farther back in time, ancient peoples left their mark on the area thousands of years ago. The state of Louisiana offers many ways to explore the region’s rich history, in hundreds of museums, historic structures, landmarks, artifacts and works of art. The careful preservation and restoration of these sites and artifacts has created many rare opportunities for visitors to experience Louisiana’s history and gain insights into the diverse cultures that continue to influence the state today.

The alluring town of Covington stands at the border of two Louisianas. The first, to the south, is flat and wet, home to New Orleans, and rooted in a French-Catholic culture. North of town is hilly and piney--- a farm country rooted in an Anglo-Protestant tradition. In Covington, you get the best of both worlds. It has top-notch white tablecloth restaurants, boutique shopping and the calendar is filled with a lively cultural scene of gallery openings, main street goings-on and the annual Three Rivers Arts Festival. This historic city is set on the Bogue Falaya River, where Columbia Street Landing holds community events, and from which there’s access to Lake Pontchartrain. But, with its proximity to country life, Covington is also a launch point for natural excursions, connecting to miles of the Tammany Trace’s green-drenched hiking and biking trails. Just a short drive away, horses cavort on rolling, pastured farms.