Visiting Downtown Monroe & West-Monroe
May 2024
Packed Days with Monroe Moments
Monroe started as a French settlement called “Prairie de Canots” (“Prairie of the Canoes”). Under the Spanish flag, Fort Miro, a defense fort, was built, and the city got the same name. After the Louisiana Purchase, Louisiana became part of the United States and the 18th state a few years later. With the arrival of the steamboat “James Monroe,” the city was renamed Monroe in honor of President Monroe. Since the 19th century, the city has become an important industrial and commerce center for cotton, lumber, and natural gas. Coca-Cola and Delta Airlines also started here. Today, Monroe is still a significant economic center for northeastern Louisiana.
Stepping Back in Time!
- Sunday, May 5, 2024
- 4.35 mi
- 1:40:08 hrs
- 72 °F
While wandering through downtown, Monrie’s varied history came alive. The beautiful buildings reminded us of a rich past. The Art Deco Francis Hotel is reused as a senior living facility. The historic J.S. Bloch Building, a saloon in its heyday, houses the Cotton Restaurant today. The oldest public building is the old clerk’s office, built in the early 1800s by Fort Miro’s founder.
Packed Days with Monroe Moments
- Tuesday, May 7, 2024
- 0.59 mi
- 16:41 min
- 84 °F
Our journey also took us to the twin sister, Downtown West Monroe, known as “Antique Alley.” In the 1980ties, the local community restored the downtown’s original character and maintained the district’s charm. Today, this Cotton Port Historic District is a designated National Register Historic District, with well-preserved antique shops, boutiques, and art galleries in charming historic buildings.
