Natchitoches is the oldest permanent settlement in the Louisiana Purchase, and the perfect jumping off point for understanding how humans have interacted with the region over the centuries. That’s the vision of Rebecca Blankenbaker, director of Cane River National Heritage Area (CRNHA) and an expert at the interpretation and promotion of Central Louisiana’s fascinating culture. For the past few years, she and the passionate team at CRNHA have nurtured the idea of a physical place that would tell the cultural story of Natchitoches, through the lens of the natural world. With the help of Propel Consulting, CRNHA began to develop these plans in earnest last spring, engaging Tipton Associates/Ashe Broussard Weinzettle (JV), landscape architect CARBO, and exhibit designer Taylor Studios to make the dream a reality.
The Cane River Discovery Center will be transformative for Natchitoches, creating a new gateway to the city along University Parkway and building on the city’s recent comprehensive plan, NatchitochesNEXT, as well as the development of an Outdoor Recreation Corridor along University Parkway. In the adaptive reuse of CRNHA’s existing headquarters, the Discovery Center exemplifies sustainable development while creatively evolving a former bank building into a children’s museum, visitor center, CRNHA headquarters, and nature center, all in one. CaneRiverDiscovery.org offers a look at preliminary designs, exhibit plans, and funding opportunities, as well as the guiding principles that support this visionary project:
This center will embody our commitment to preserving and celebrating the unique relationship between the landscape and its people. Our central theme, “Our stewardship of the land is a symbiotic dance between the landscape and its people – each flowing into the other, connecting us all,” perfectly captures the essence of this initiative.
The Discovery Center will serve as a future hub for education, conservation, and community engagement, highlighting the deep, interwoven relationship between the natural environment and the cultural heritage of the Cane River region. By showcasing the rich history, diverse ecosystems, and vibrant communities of this area, the center will foster a greater understanding and appreciation of how the landscape and its inhabitants have shaped each other over time.
Visit CaneRiverDiscovery.Org to learn more about the project and get involved in its future. Follow Cane River National Heritage Area on Facebook or Instagram for additional updates.