Monroe, Louisiana, is an area with a proud Louisiana heritage and a deep-seated history that has been preserved over the years through a variety of museums and historical sites. Check out this list of places where you can discover the history and experience the culture of Monroe.
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The Biedenharn Museum and Gardens
The Biedenharn Museum and Gardens provides a wide range of exhibits and activities for visitors of all ages. The museum features various outdoor programs, gallery exhibits, and guided tours of its gardens and museum collections. Specifically, within the museum, you’ll have an opportunity to experience the Coke Museum, the Biedenharn Bible Museum, an English-inspired garden, and the Biedenharn house museum.
Open since 2008, the Coke Museum features a variety of unique Coca-Cola memorabilia and historical artifacts. The Coke museum pays tribute to Mr. Joe Biedenharn, who is the man who first bottled Coca-Cola. The Bible Museum includes Emy-Lou Biedenharn’s collection of rare Bibles. The gardens include thousands of flowering plants and sculptures from around the globe. Visitors can also tour the historic Biedenharn house.
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Chennault Aviation and Military Museum of Louisiana
Located at the entrance to Monroe Regional Airport, the Chennault Aviation and Military Museum features a broad selection of exhibits, artifacts, and aircraft from World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Iraq War, the Afghanistan War, Delta Airlines, and NASA.
Admission to the museum is free of charge, and it is advised that visitors allow a couple of hours to tour the museum. Guided tours are available, but visitors may view the exhibits on their own.
Designed especially for kids, the Chennault Museum also offers an interactive and engaging summer boot camp with tons of activities and events that will keep your children busy all summer long.
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Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge
The Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge is a 5300-acre refuge that houses a wide variety of wildlife. The lake covers 1600 acres and is a point of interest in the area for locals and visitors alike. Activities at the lake include viewing wildlife, hunting, fishing, photography, canoeing, kayaking, and a range of educational activities. Visitors can walk the nature trail and fish from the provided pier.
An abundance of local wildlife can be spotted around the lake and refuge, including alligator snapping turtles, American alligators, snakes, frogs, and birds, and lots of other creatures.
Upon your arrival to the Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge, stop by the visitor center to view various exhibits, including hands-on activities that are perfect for kids. Restrooms and a bookstore are also located at the visitor center. The Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge is the destination for discovering, viewing, and learning about the local flora and fauna.
Whether you prefer a museum or a place where you can view the diverse wildlife of the area, Monroe, Louisiana, provides multiple sites of historical significance. Visit one of these places today and learn more about all that Monroe has to offer!
Image via jc.winkler | Licensed under CC BY 2.0
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