Forts Randolph and Buhlow State Historic Site, Civil War fortifications in Pineville, Louisiana

Forts Randolph and Buhlow are two earthen forts at Pineville, Louisiana, built by Confederate forces to guard the Red River. The site also holds the remains of Bailey's Dam, a visitor center, an elevated boardwalk and a field used for Civil War re-enactments. Both forts are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

These fortifications were built in 1864 by Confederate forces following a military setback in the region, designed to block Union forces from advancing further. They represented a strategic attempt to hold the Red River and prevent deeper penetration into Confederate territory.

The two forts stand as reminders of how warfare reshaped the lives of people living along the Red River during the Civil War. Visitors walking through the site experience the landscape that both armies fought over and the communities caught between them.

The site is open Wednesday through Sunday from morning to late afternoon. An on-site visitor center provides exhibits and interpretation to help understand the fortifications and their role in the war.

The site preserves the remains of Bailey's Dam, built so Admiral David Porter's Union fleet could escape below the Red River rapids during the retreat after the Battle of Mansfield. The forts themselves are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.