Natchitoches: Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Museum and More

When Hollywood came calling for the perfect Southern town for its blockbuster film Steel Magnolias, Natchitoches was selected. Amid the flared oaks and budding magnolia trees, the movie spun a tale of sacrifice, dedication, and love for family. A similar story is echoed inside the new Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Museum, which opened to the public in Natchitoches at the end of June. Each exhibit pays tribute to Louisiana sports heroes—both players and coaches. Some clawed their way up while others rose more quickly; but through all the victories and all the fanfare, these athletes never forgot their roots, never refused an autograph, and remained dearly committed to the state of Louisiana.

Just as the athletes worked hard over many years to realize their dreams, so too did the members of the Louisiana Sports Writers Association (LSWA). It was 1951 when the LSWA first voted to honor the state’s outstanding athletes and coaches; seven years later, the Association inducted three charter members—football great and LSU coach Gaynell Tinsley, world champion boxer Tony Canzoneri, and baseball power hitter Mel Ott.

Hall of Fame induction ceremonies had no real home for many years; some enshrinements took place in Baton Rouge at LSU football games, while others occurred during VFW banquets in New Orleans. It wasn’t until 1971 that a facility was identified to serve as both ceremonial space and to house the archival material and memorabilia—Northwestern State University in Natchitoches.

The Hall of Fame was accepted into the state museum system in 2003, and archival material on display at Northwestern’s Prather Coliseum was turned over to the state museum system in 2005. This exchange set the stage for the state and the city of Natchitoches to work with the LSWA in developing the new museum, whose official grand opening was held on June 28, 2013.

Located on Front Street, the striking 27,500-square-foot museum boasts a copper exterior sculpted in a hand-formed louver design to provide shade, ventilation, and enclosure. Inside, Trahan Architects embraced the region’s fluid landscapes with curvaceous stone walls styled with skylights casting geometric designs of natural light. The Hall of Fame dominates the building’s first floor, with the second floor dedicated to celebrating Louisiana as the “Sportsman’s Paradise,” focusing on a blend of sports history and culture which takes visitors through the seasons of sport and features exhibits on football, basketball, baseball, horseracing, golf, LSU, and the Superdome. 

Thinc Design, the same company that is preparing the exhibits for the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, designed the Sports Hall of Fame exhibits. The curators have combined color portraits of Hall of Fame members alongside a growing collection of baseballs, footballs, bats, gloves, jerseys, golf clubs, helmets, shoes, and other memorabilia contributed by Hall of Fame members and their families. Louisiana’s Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne even donated his own Pete Maravich scrapbook, which he put together as a youngster.

Harnessing the many displays of physical prowess caught on film, the museum features a Great Moments exhibit that replays nail-biting wins in football, baseball, and basketball with interactive media. Visitors can relive Billy Cannon’s tackle-breaking punt return against Ole Miss in 1959, Warren Morris’ game-winning home run for LSU in the 1996 College World Series, and Kim Mulkey’s NCAA championship basketball games as a Louisiana Tech Lady Techster and later as head coach for Baylor University.

“The main goal in designing exhibits and selecting artifacts was to inspire people, especially young people, to think about greatness,” Louisiana State Museum System Director Mark Tullos said. “Every object here tells a story. Seen together, they create a visitor experience that we hope is both uplifting as well as entertaining.”

More than three hundred men and women from Louisiana are part of the Hall of Fame roster, including stellar names such as Archie Manning, Eddie Delahoussaye, and “Pistol Pete” Maravich. The LSWA’s thirty-member Hall of Fame Selection Committee conducts a two-month review process each year in selecting new members. Athletes under consideration must have competed in Louisiana at the varsity level in high school or college for at least two years; those who gained fame at the college or professional level are also eligible. Coaches and others who worked in professional capacities such as sports administration can also be nominated for induction.

This year, nine inductees and two special award winners were admitted to this prestigious and carefully vetted group. At the induction ceremony, the 2013 inductees talked about commitment, the people who helped them along the way, and of course, their love for Louisiana.

Basketball phenomenon and international celebrity Shaquille O’Neal was one of this year’s inductees; he shared his love for Baton Rouge at the induction ceremonies—the crawfish, jambalaya, tailgating, and Saturday nights in Tiger Stadium—and how the people of Baton Rouge became his extended family. He praised his parents for raising him well, but admitted that the people of Louisiana lifted him to greatness. Lafayette’s tennis great and fellow 2013 inductee, Chanda Rubin, agreed with Shaq—whether you are a native of Louisiana or not, the roots run deep, keeping you grounded and never letting go.    

In addition to state sporting heritage, the building’s second floor also houses the Northwest Louisiana Regional History Museum. The History Museum presents a cultural timeline of northwest Louisiana, tracing the echoes of Caddo Indians, European explorers, and Southern folkways found in its plantation and farming communities. The museum also presents exhibits examining the impact of the local timber and petroleum industries.

Seven major exhibit themes cover the gamut of significant regional history. The Living Traditions exhibit features local crafts, cuisine, social customs, and the Cane River Creole community of Isle Brevelle. In the Great Women exhibit, meet novelist Kate Chopin, conservationist Carrie Dorman, Melrose Plantation arts and literature patron Cammie Henry, and folk artist Clementine Hunter, with twelve of Hunter’s original works of art also on display.

The museum stands across the street from the Natchitoches Parish Tourist Center and the office of Iris Harper, Natchitoches Parish Tourist Commission’s executive director. “The building itself is so amazing. When you walk inside, it wraps around you,” said Harper. “Now we have another attraction that will blend with our historic sites and enhance what we have for families and sports-oriented visitors.”

Beyond the Museum: A weekend of Natchitoches fun.

After visiting the museum, spend a day touring the city’s historic homes and plantations. Climb into a horse-drawn carriage for a tour of the downtown historic district or a walking tour of historic homes. Stroll along Front Street and duck inside the Kaffie-Frederick General Mercantile, the oldest continuously operated hardware store in Louisiana, and relive the days you walked hand-in-hand with grandpa shopping for the right tool or a new box of jacks. Foodies will love Cane River Kitchenware stocked with kitchen gadgets and a state-of-the-art kitchen with cooking demonstrations.

Kent Gresham, son of “Grits” Gresham and owner of The Landing Restaurant & Bar, pays tribute to his father with photos of his dad’s exploits along the walls of his restaurant. Claude Hamilton “Grits” Gresham, Jr. hosted The American Sportsman television series and wrote for numerous national outdoor magazines including Sports Afield and Gentlemen’s Quarterly; he is honored with an exhibit at the Sports Hall of Fame Museum. Be sure to try Kent’s fried green tomatoes crabcake imperial or his chicken and alligator sausage gumbo.

Around the corner on Church Street, Merci Beaucoup Restaurant packs them in for the Cajun baked potato and bread pudding. Although the meat pie is as old as the Civil War, it didn’t hit the big time until James Lasyone opened Lasyone’s Meat Pie Restaurant in 1967. Visit there for a generous portion of meat and rice stuffed inside a single serving, flaky-crusted pie.

Historic Natchitoches homes have been lovingly restored as bed and breakfasts, each with its own distinct personality. Enjoy an evening cocktail inside the New Orleans-style patios at the Church Street Inn. The Violet Hill Bed & Breakfast sits atop a ridge overlooking the Cane River Lake, and the award winning Judge Porter House features European cut crystal chandeliers.

Explore the region’s outdoors at the National Fish Hatchery & Aquarium, the Bayou Pierre Alligator Park with hourly alligator feedings, and a day deep in the cool expanse of the Kisatchie National Forest—hiking, fishing, or horseback riding. Witness first-hand the vistas of the Red River at the Ecore Visitor Center set on an eighty-foot high bluff with trails offering excellent photo opportunities. Exhibits detail the river’s history and its vital role in navigation and economic development. Further south, a public port offers a boat ramp, fishing, and picnic facilities with grills.

Out of town, the Cane River Heritage Trail hosts three centuries of traditions with palatial plantations, tattered barns, and clay-colored fields. Melrose Plantation is a particular treat along the Trail. An enclave for artists and writers, Melrose Plantation’s matriarch, Carmelite “Cammie” Henry, helped redefine the twentieth century literary and artistic climate of the region, inviting writers and artists to stay at the plantation. 

When visiting Natchitoches, make your first stop the Natchitoches Tourism Center and ask for the Cane River Heritage Trail Scenic Byway booklet. It offers a gateway to scenic trails and the city’s historic district; each point of interest is highlighted with photos accompanied by a detailed description.

Details. Details. Details.

Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Museum & Northwest Louisiana History Museum

800 Front Street

Natchitoches, La.

(318) 357-2492  • lasportshall.com

10 am–4:30 pm, Tuesdays through Saturdays • 1 pm–5 pm, Sundays.

$5 for adults; $4 for students, seniors, and active-duty military; free for children twelve and younger.

Natchitoches Parish Tourism Center

780 Front Street, Suite 100

Natchitoches, La.

(800) 259-1714 • natchitoches.net

Natchitoches Bed & Breakfast listings

natchitochesbandb.com

Grand Ecore Visitors Center

106 Tauzin Island Road

Natchitoches, La.

(318) 354-8770

explorenatchitoches.com/attractions/red-river-waterway