Category Archive: Louisiana

Poverty Point State Historic Site on UNESCO Nominee List

The U.S. Department of the Interior is nominating Poverty Point State Historic Site in northeast Louisiana for the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2013.  The 3,500-year-old site is considered one of the most culturally significant American Indian sites in the U.S., and is already designated a National Historic Landmark, National Monument and Smithsonian Affiliate. Poverty Point is the largest, most complex U.S. archaeological site of its age. No other site in the country matched its size until 2,500 years later. In addition to its impressive size and design, the site is outstanding because of its widespread trade network. The site’s design is unlike any other site in the world, including a massive earthen complex, with five mounds (the largest in photo above), six concentric, C-shaped ridges and a large, flat plaza. Archaeologists believe Native Americans moved millions of basket-loads of […]

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King Cake: Louisiana Mardi Gras Tradition

One of the rich traditions of the Mardi Gras season is the King Cake, and with only a couple day left until Fat Tuesday, bakeries are madly trying to fill the last orders before the Lenten season begins. The history of the King Cake dates back to the celebrations of Epiphany, the 12 days after Christmas.  Epiphany is more widely celebrated in Europe than in the United States, but Louisiana adopted the King Cake and made it a part of its Mardi Gras traditions.  The King Cake is served throughout the Carnival season – Epiphany, or 12th night, until Fat Tuesday, this year February 21st, 2011  – and is a part of this time of celebration, feasting and partying.  During the Mardi Gras season, king cake parties are popular, and date back to the 18th century, but increasingly King Cakes […]

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Mardi Gras Celebrations Around the U.S.

I’m currently on a plane (yay inflight wi-fi), heading to Shreveport-Bossier for my first Mardi Gras celebration.  When I was younger, the idea of partying and whooping it up at this quintessentially decadent holiday had great appeal with all the drinking, parades, and beads.  Somewhere along the way to adulthood, the allure faded and the idea of a Mardi Gras celebration had more appeal in my mind that in my reality. At a recent travel event, however, I had the opportunity to meet and chat with some lovely people from the Shreveport-Bossier Convention & Tourist Bureau.  I’ve never been to Shreveport, but they shared the knowledge and enthusiasm about their area, and convinced me that Mardi Gras there was just as much fun, while still being primarily family friendly.  Sure, there were still some of the traditional activities – parades, […]

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