A pine-oak-hickory forest, a bayou by the lake and a red mountain biking trail loop: Caddo brings together very different nature and cultural experiences. Visitors looking to spend time outdoors will find parks with forest trails, access to the water and designated facilities; museums and collections also offer an introduction to the history of Louisiana and Shreveport. You can focus on what interests you rather than treating every place as an equivalent stop.
Forests, Trails and Shorelines
Walter B. Jacobs Memorial Nature Park preserves a pine-oak-hickory forest for nature education and recreation. You can explore the grounds on five miles of nature trails; one of the trails is accessible. Forest conservation and physical activity go hand in hand here, offering a concrete starting point for a walk or an interest in forest landscapes.
The red loop at Eddie D. Jones Park offers a different challenge: it is more than 11 miles long and designed for mountain biking and trail running. The directions provided take you from I-20 via Industrial Loop, Woolworth Road, LA-525, LA-169 and LA-789 to Mike Clark Road. Check road conditions before setting out. At Richard Fleming Park, Shettleworth Bayou flows into Cross Lake; a short nature trail runs along the bayou. P.B.S. Pinchback Park offers a different focus, with a paved walking path and a volleyball area.
The parks on Black Bayou Lake also vary in size: Robert L. Nance Park covers 20 acres, while Noah Tyson Park covers 9 acres. Both are on the lake and have a boat ramp; Noah Tyson Park also has a pier. Earl G. Williamson Park has a public boat ramp and a 450-foot fishing pier. RV hookups and camping areas round out the listed facilities there.
History in Museums and Exhibits
One important historical thread reaches far back: the Caddo, an Indigenous people, were the original inhabitants of northwestern Louisiana. The Great Raft made early exploration of the upper Red River Valley difficult. The Spring Street Museum presents the history of Shreveport through photographs and artifacts, including the Great Raft and the legally permitted red-light district of the early 20th century. The Spring Street Historical Museum building, constructed around 1866, also preserves the original bank vault. Admission is free; donations are accepted.
The Louisiana State Exhibit Museum in Shreveport was completed in 1939 as one of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s public New Deal projects. A two-story mural and scale dioramas depict life in Louisiana in the 1930s. Exhibits at the Vivian Railroad Station Museum explore the region’s history and culture.
In northern Caddo Parish, the Louisiana State Oil and Gas Museum offers insight into the discovery of oil and its impact on the region. Historical photographs, films and artifacts document the local petroleum industry there. The oil boom in the early 20th century also helped bring about communities such as Oil City and the area around Caddo Lake. Check the museum’s visitor information before your trip.
Art, Animals and Science
R.W. Norton Art Gallery is surrounded by 40 acres of botanical gardens, with winding paths and native and introduced azaleas; bloom times vary by season. Its permanent collection includes sculptures by more than 100 artists. The gardens and the art collection offer two different ways to experience the venue.
At Shreveport Aquarium, visitors can touch live marine animals during hands-on animal encounters. The animals include sharks, stingrays, alligators, snapping turtles and reef fish, as well as other species. Louisiana’s Science and Space Center at Sci-Port adds more than 200 hands-on interactive exhibits. Space Dome presentations last 30 minutes and are followed by a Q&A session for the audience. As the program may change, check the schedule before your visit. The Shreveport Symphony Orchestra has offered professional symphonic performances since 1948.
One dish also has a specific origin story: Shreveport-style stuffed shrimp was created by Chef Eddie G. Hughes at the historic Freeman & Harris Café in downtown Shreveport. For general visitor information, Visit Shreveport-Bossier is the official resource for Shreveport-Bossier and Caddo and Bossier Parishes.
Discover more destinations: Shreveport, Vivian, Keithville, St. Tammany Parish, De Soto, Richland, Livingston, Washington.
For the broader travel overview: Louisiana.
