Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, National historical park in Louisiana, United States.
Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve is a protected area with six separate sites across southern Louisiana that includes swamps, marshland, and waterways. The different sections range from coastal zones to inland areas and provide access to wetlands, historic battlefields, and cultural facilities spread across the southern part of the state.
The site was established in 1978 to protect natural areas and historic places significant to Louisiana. It includes the Chalmette Battlefield, where in 1815 American troops under Andrew Jackson defeated British forces during the Battle of New Orleans.
The park honors the memory of French-speaking settlers who arrived in Louisiana during the 18th century and developed their own way of life. Their descendants still live in the region and maintain traditions such as French dialects, folk music, and distinct cooking methods, all of which visitors can experience at the cultural centers.
The park spreads across multiple sites in southern Louisiana, so moving between sections requires a car. Most locations offer walking paths, boardwalks, and exhibit spaces that visitors can explore through guided tours or on their own.
In the Barataria section, elevated wooden boardwalks wind through wetlands where alligators, snakes, and over 200 bird species can be observed in their natural surroundings. The paths cross standing water and pass through dense vegetation, so animals often appear right beside visitors.
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