The six sites of Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve represent a treasure trove of south Louisiana's historical and cultural riches. People from nearly every country, ethnic group, language, and religion have come to the lower Mississippi River delta and left traces of their passing.
As author William Faulkner wrote, "The past is never dead. It's not even past." In south Louisiana, the places where history happened are around every corner and down every bayou, and the well-worn skills and traditions of previous generations are revered at the same time they're adapted for life in a new century.
Follow the links below to learn about
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- how the Acadians became Louisiana's Cajuns.
- the Battle of New Orleans and the history of Chalmette Battlefield, including archeological explorations. Click here to access "The Search for the Lost Riverfront," a comprehensive 2009 study by the National Park Service, and here for a 1958 National Park Service historical handbook about Chalmette Battlefield.
- Louisiana casualties during the War of 1812 and the Louisiana campaign, including the Battle of New Orleans. Two lists are contained in one pdf: the first is a partial list of Louisiana casualties during the entire War of 1812, the second is casualties from the Louisiana campaign. Note that although the British fleet set sail from Louisiana on January 30, 1815, many men died after that time, probably from wounds sustained or diseases contracted during the campaign. Please note that these lists were produced in 1954; the park welcomes new information---you can send it via the "contact us" link located in the left column.
- the National Park Service's history e-library. The e-library contains historical and archeological reports, biographies, geological studies, and more. Go to "J" to find information related to the park or follow the links for historic themes, oral histories, and more.
- history and culture throughout the National Park Service system.
- the National Park Service's online museums.
