|
|
Looking into Shreveport and Bossier City’s roots takes history buffs to the mighty Red River. There was no community until 1835 when Capt. Henry Miller Shreve and his men cleared a 165-mile log jam on the river. Capt. Shreve was a daring steamboat captain and superintendent of Western River Improvement. During the same year, the Caddo Indians sold their claims in the area to western-bound settlers. Before selling their land, the Caddos gave 640 acres to Larkin Edwards, their interpreter, who in turn sold the land to eight men including Capt. Shreve. The men then formed Shrevetown Company – and the city was born. The Shreveport area has grown into one of the two largest metropolitan areas in the Ark-La-Tex, with an estimated population of more than 379,000. It is also the center of the Ark-La-Tex area that reaches into southwest Arkansas, northwest Louisiana and northeast Texas. Shreveport’s population is more than 200,000. Meanwhile there was a stirring of activity on the other side of the Red River. In 1835, a community known as Bennett’s Bluff was emerging. Named after William Smith Bennett, who had helped lay out Shreveport, the community became Bossier (pronounced Bo-zher) Parish in 1843.
General Pierre Evariste John Baptist Bossier, a famous Creole general, was instrumental in forming the parish and was among its first settlers.
Bossier City’s history is filled with tales of Civil War carpetbaggers and barn raisings, but its most significant contribution to the development of the Shreveport/Bossier City area was in transportation. Shed Road, built in the 1870s, was the South’s original year-round turnpike. It was actually a 9-mile shed with a road running through it, which made the transportation of outgoing cotton and incoming supplies a reality. In 1905, Governor Blanchard chartered this area as a village and it was then known as Cane City. By 1907, the population had increased and it was incorporated into the town of Bossier City. In 1951, Governor Earl K. Long issued a proclamation making Bossier City, with a population of 15,000 a city. Today, there are more than 59,000 residents in Bossier City.
From its earliest days, Shreveport-Bossier City was bound for success. As the river activity increased, the area became prosperous and commercial trade sprung up along the river. Agriculture, lumber, oil and gas industries thrived around the river traffic and the railroad. To this day, the community serves as the cultural, transportation, convention and entertainment center of the Ark-La-Tex.
Louisiana is more than alligators, gumbo and swamps. It is a state with a proud heritage that offers unlimited opportunities for recreational enjoyment and sheer scenic beauty.
Louisiana is the 31st largest state in size, and its population of 4,468,976 (1990 census), makes it the 22nd largest by population. Soybeans, cotton, rice, chemicals and petroleum are important contributors to a very diverse economy. Louisiana became the 18th state April 30, 1812. In 1882, the state capitol was moved permanently to Baton Rouge, the second largest city – behind New Orleans. Shreveport is the third largest. Barksdale is located roughly 180 miles east of Dallas and 312 miles northwest of New Orleans.
The Shreveport Regional Airport services the area and is located about 10 miles west of the base.
For more information on area attractions, contact the bureau at (318) 222-9391, or visit them on the web at www.shrevport-bossier.org.
People throughout all of Louisiana celebrate Mardi Gras in February with parades, parties and more. The tradition dates back to 1837 when the first street parade took place in New Orleans. However, the first formal celebration there was pioneered by the Mystic Krewe of Comus in 1857. Mardi Gras, which is French for “Fat Tuesday,” is a pre-Lenten festival celebration in Roman Catholic countries and communities. The first official MardiGras celebration in Shreveport-Bossier City was organized by the Krewe of Gemini in 1990. Since then, the concept has continued to grow.
Shreveport-Bossier features two major krewe parades, Gemini and Centaur, as well as a variety of other smaller krewe activities. Barksdale’s float participates in both parades each year. Regardless of whether you celebrate in Shreveport-Bossier or New Orleans, Mardi Gras is a time for people to get together and enjoy the festivals. A Mardi Gras museum is open to the public in Bossier City. The museum showcases floats used in the yearly parade.
“Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler” – Let the Good Times Roll!
This 10-day celebration is held every April to commemorate the Louisiana Purchase, April 30, 1803. Parades, cotillion balls, a treasure hunt, art shows, contests, tournaments and a carnival highlight the festivities.
Listed among the top state fairs in the country, this fair draws more than 200,000 people annually each October to Shreveport/Bossier City. The fair features rides, shows, educational exhibits, displays, livestock, agriculture and arts and crafts competitions.
The first week in October brings to life the spirit of the native arts and crafts during the Red River Revel. The celebration features artists of all types – painters, potters, weavers, jewelers, musicians, theater, ballet and clowns – in addition to ethnic foods and workshops.
Two Division 1 NCAA teams match up in Independence Stadium for this annual post-season game, surrounded by pep rallies, luncheons, competitions and pageantry. The Gen. Omar Bradley Spirit of Independence award is presented at halftime.
Every spring, the community celebrates Louisiana’s most notable crustacean, the crawfish. This festival celebrates the crawfish season with Cajun foods, music, children’s activities and loads of fun.
This festival benefits non-profit organizations and includes the Super Derby, one of the nation’s richest thoroughbred races, held at Louisiana Downs in Bossier City.
World-class skiers take to the water at Champion Lake in this weekend of slaloms, trick skiing, jumping and other events.
The Bossier City and Shreveport lakes offer boating, water skiing, fishing and swimming.
Park facilities and a yacht club are available.
The Sci-Port Discovery Center offers a “hands-on” science-learning center featuring exciting interactive exhibits and fascinating demonstrations for children and adults of all ages. Located on the downtown Shreveport riverfront, the center opened a new, permanent 67,000-square-foot facility in 1998 with a 60-foot tall IMAX dome theater, five permanent exhibit galleries, demonstration theater, traveling exhibit gallery, cafe and gift shop. The center is open seven days a week with hourly demonstrations on a variety of topics for the whole family.
As one of Shreveport’s most popular professional sports team, the Mudbugs bring professional hockey to the Ark-La-Tex with its play in the Western Professional Hockey League. The Mudbugs play their home games at Bossier City’s CenturyTel Center.
With the area’s newest professional team, the Battle Wings bring in arena football with exciting action. The Battle Wings play their home games in Bossier’s CenturyTel Center.
Located on the state fair grounds, the Planetarium has special shows featuring laser lights and glimpses into the past, present and future of the solar system, giving visitors a fascinating view of the universe.
Located on 118 acres just west of Shreveport, the rose center is North America’s largest rose garden. It is headquarters for the American Rose Society. More than 20,000 roses are planted in 60 individual gardens. Christmas is an especially good time to visit since the center is adorned for its annual show of lights and displays.
With more than 1 million gallons of fun, Water Town USA offers the Wave Pool, Banzai Slides and a large activity pool to cool off during Louisiana’s hot summer days. Other features of the water park include the Black Hole and Pipeline, a tubular water slide. The water park is open May through September.
Located on the Clyde Fant Parkway near the Red River in downtown Shreveport, the center is one of the few combined art and garden centers in the Southeast. The south wing is a glass-covered dome conservatory featuring seasonal planting displays and native specimens.
This museum, located in Bossier City, houses more than 1,000 specimens of world wildlife, art and history in beautiful handpainted backgrounds.
Located on the campus of Centenary College, this museum features Jean Despujol’s collection of paintings and drawings, and an assortment of treasures depicting the people and lifestyles of Indochina.
The Southwest’s largest permanent collection of American Western paintings by Frederic Remington and Charles M. Russell and sculptures as well as special traveling exhibits are housed in this beautiful museum, located in southeast Shreveport, off Line Avenue.
The museum features area athletes who have won national, international and world championships. Among those featured are Terry Bradshaw, Hal Sutton and Freddie Spencer.
No matter what is being staged, a night at the Strand is memorable. Built in 1925, this ornate theater is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places.
The 8th Air Force Museum is one of 12 U.S. Air Force Field Museums and tells the Air Force story of Strategic Bombardment. This is accomplished through careful collecting and displaying of the material history of the 2nd Bomb Wing, America’s oldest bombardment organization, Historic Barksdale AFB, built to train the Air Force’s top bombardment units and of course the mighty 8th Air Force – America’s premier bomber command made famous during World War II. Indoor displays take visitors on a historic journey through world history. The museum features a wide variety of equipment and uniforms placed in diorama style displays. One such diorama depicts a barracks as it was used by members of the World War II 8th Air Force. The museum’s inventory has more than 25 vintage aircraft that take visitors on an imaginary trip through the skies with wide variety of 8th Air Force planes. The museum has grown greatly over the years, and today its collection includes the rare B-24, B-17, B-29, AT-11, B-47, B-52D, B-52G, British Vulcan, FB-111A, C-45, C-47, VC-64, KC-97, KC-135, P-51D, F-84F, MiG-21F, SR-71 and T-33. The museum also features a gift and souvenir shop so visitors can take a piece of the Mighty Eighth home with them. Daily films are shown free in a replica 8th Air Force World War II Briefing Room. The museum is located just inside the Bossier Gate and is open to the public daily from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free. For additional information call (318) 456-3067.
The Barksdale Air Force Base Guide is published by Benchmark Publications Incorporated, a private firm in no way connected with the Department of the Air Force, under exclusive written contract with Barksdale AFB. The appearance of advertising in this publication, including inserts and supplements, does not constitute endorsement by the Department of the Air Force or Benchmark Publications, Incorporated of the products or services advertised. Everything advertised in this publication shall be made available for purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation or any other non-merit factor of the purchaser, user or patron. If a violation or rejection of this equal opportunity policy by an advertiser is confirmed, the publisher shall refuse to print advertising from that source until the violation is corrected. The Barksdale AFB Guide is an unofficial publication authorized by AR 360-81. Editorial content is prepared, edited and provided by the Public Affairs Office of Barksdale AFB. All photos are provided by the Public Affairs Office unless stated otherwise.
|
|
FROM COTTON FIELDS 
