Louisiana is steeped in history, and the state’s architectural relics are a testament to this history.
Louisiana architecture is defined by a multicultural heritage, as French, Spanish and African influences blend with adaptations for the region’s climate.
While there is a specific style of Louisiana architecture, there are also some unusual building specimens that have become attractions.
6 architectural oddities in Louisiana according to Atlas Obscura. What to know
These six places are categorized as “architectural oddities” in Louisiana, according to Atlas Obscura.
1. Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in Natchitoches
The Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame is a remarkably futuristic building that sits in Louisiana’s oldest city. Designed by Trey Trahan, the building’s white stucco exterior is wrapped in copper strands, resembling the area’s traditional shaded porches, as well as the twists and turns of the Cane River that’s located nearby. The building has angular shells that open up to an interior that is seemingly devoid of corners, says Atlas Obscura.
2. Music Box Village in New Orleans
Nestled in the Bywater neighborhood, Music Box Village encapsulates the whimsical imagination of music lovers, as it was designed by a collective of more than 80 artists and builders. Here, there is a bohemian-esque sculpture garden that contains interactive “musical houses” that play creative harmonies for visitors. This forested structure is one of architectural ingenuity, as the venue becomes a hands-on exploration of sounds, according to Atlas Obscura.
3. General Laundry Building in New Orleans
The General Laundry Building in New Orleans is an abandoned gem from the Art Deco time period, featuring splashes of color and geometric patterns that stand out among the building’s unkempt exterior. The artistic exterior suggests that the building was used for more than just simply washing clothes, and this is true, as the laundromat was used to host monthly fashion shows. In the 1930s, models displayed homespun and exotic cloths in the fashions of the time while champagne would be serves, says Atlas Obscura.
4. United Fruit Company Building in New Orleans
The United Fruit Company Building in New Orleans boasts an intricate, fruit-covered facade, which hints at the building’s former use. Today, the building is occupied by Fidelity Homestead Bank, however, the building was once the headquarters of a company with a seedy history. Starting in the 1920s, the United Fruit Company had a monopoly over the fruit industry, one which has lasting effects on many of the Latin American countries it did business in, according to Atlas Obscura.
5. Jean Lafitte’s Old Absinthe House in New Orleans
Old Absinthe House, New Orleans, Louisianna, The famous pirate Jean Lafitte used it as his headquarters in 1807 and the painter Edgar Degas drank here. The house was later closed because of the Volstead Act (National Prohibition Act) of 1920. (Photo by General Photographic Agency/Getty Images)
Jean Lafitte’s Old Absinthe House is a 200-year-old bar in the historic French Quarter where outlaw pirate Jean Lafitte met with General Andrew Jackson to discuss an allyship in what would be the Battle of New Orleans during the War of 1812. Jackson visited the second floor of The Old Absinthe House to ask Lafitte if he would help man the ships and fight against invading British forces, says Atlas Obscura.
6. The Eiffel Tower of New Orleans
The Eiffel Tower of New Orleans is a little piece of Paris located in the crescent city, as the Restaurant de La Tour Eiffel, which sat at the top of Eiffel Tower, was taken apart during restoration efforts in 1981 and relocated. The restaurant, which served famous names like Picasso and Charlie Chaplin, found a new home and was rebuilt on St. Charles Avenue, according to Atlas Obscura.
Presley Bo Tyler is a reporter for the Louisiana Deep South Connect Team for Gannett/USA Today. Find her on X @PresleyTyler02 and email at PTyler@Gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: What are the coolest architectural attractions in Louisiana? 6 here