History & Heritage in Sorrento 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.

Sorrento, a small town in Ascension Parish, was first known as Conway before being renamed in 1909. The town received its name from William Edenborn, a German immigrant who built the railroad through the region. He named the town Sorrento after the city in Italy where he took his bride for their honeymoon. Sorrento is convenient to the plantations of River Road and is home to the River Parish Community College and The Cajun Village, a collection of shops featuring Louisiana artists and products.