History & Heritage in Slidell 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.

 

Slidell begins where Lake Pontchartrain ends, where the lake forges triumphantly towards the Gulf of Mexico via a deepwater strait. At the Rigolets pass, you’re as likely to encounter tooling sailboats as toiling shrimpboats. The hinterland is striped with bayous, where canoe travel is more appropriate. If you’re into waterborne recreation—whether fishing, sailing, canoeing or waterskiing—there’s no question you’ll be into Slidell. But this is no remote getaway. Slidell stands just across the water from New Orleans, 20 minutes away. Culturally—and culinarily—there is little distinction between the two. Slidell is proud of its historic Olde Towne, with its excellent restaurants, antique shops and an ambience that recalls simpler times. On the other hand, Slidell also contains a top-notch regional shopping mall, North Shore Square. And Slidell may be one of the easiest places to access in Louisiana, at the junction of interstates 10, 12 and 59.