Stroll the amazing gardens at the Biedenharn Museum and Gardens in Monroe.
You won't forget a Ruston sweet peach! Pick up fresh peaches when in season and shop for additional peach products at Mitcham Farms.
Visit the Chennault Aviation and Military Museum in Monroe.
Explore the mysteries left behind by ancient civilizations at Poverty Point World Heritage Site.
Historic US 80
When Sunday drives were a novelty and highways had picturesque names instead of numbers, Highway US 80 took motorists all the way from Georgia to California. Today, Louisiana has dubbed a 105-mile stretch of the roadway in the northern part of the state the Historic US 80 Byway. Drivers along the route, which begins in the charming town of Ruston and ends at the Louisiana/Mississippi state line, can drink in vistas of verdant farms and forested landscapes. Swaths of open land give the area a feeling of remoteness, but the byway is also an important route for farmers and loggers.
Mention Ruston to a Louisiana resident, and watch his face light up at the thought of a juicy peach. If you visit Ruston in the spring or summer, you can taste these sweet beauties for yourself. During the off season, growers such as Mitcham Farms sell their delicious jams, jellies, fruit butters and cobblers. Ruston also has a well-restored 18-block historic district, ideal for those who like to shop in small, locally owned stores. Other good sites to visit include the Lincoln Parish Museum, housed in an 1886 mansion, and the Louisiana Military Museum, which displays weaponry and artifacts ranging from the Spanish-American War through modern times.
Traveling east, the twin cities of Monroe/West Monroe lie on the banks of the Ouachita River. One of Monroe’s most popular attractions is the Biedenharn Museum and Gardens. Joseph Biedenharn made his fortune bottling Coca-Cola, and the complex includes a Coke museum, a Bible museum, Biedenharn’s gracious 1913 mansion and a stunning walled English garden. Other local attractions include the Chennault Aviation and Military Museum, which tells the story of how Delta Airlines began its life in Monroe as a crop-dusting operation, and more stories of Louisiana’s role in the military. Monroe is also a good place for dining and shopping, including antique-browsing. Ten minutes north of West Monroe is D’Arbonne National Wildlife Refuge, a protected habitat for alligators, bald eagles, bats and the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker. An observation tower offers great views of migratory wildfowl, and there are plenty of walking trails.
UNESCO World Heritage Site Poverty Point is located in Epps, just outside of Delhi. Older than the Egyotian pyramids, this is one of the world’s most significant archaeological sites. It contains some of the largest American earthworks of the prehistoric period. Archaeologists have carefully excavated some 400 acres here to study the inhabitants who built the unusual mounds several thousand years ago. A little farther east, stop in the town of Tallulah and visit the Tensas River National Wildlife Refuge to find a vast variety of bird life. Or visit the Southern Heritage Air Foundation museum dedicated to preserving aviation and the stories of flight told by U.S. service members.
FIND MORE INFORMATION:
Monroe-West Monroe CVB
Ruston-Lincoln CVB
Historic US 80 Attractions
Monroe/West Monroe Convention and Visitor Bureau
Stop by the Monroe/West Monroe Convention and Visitor Bureau to learn about the best restaurants, top events and exciting attractions happening in the cities of Monroe and West Monroe, and their surrounding towns. No matter your interest, the CVB's staff of travel experts will point you in the right direction.
West Monroe, LA 71292
Ruston Lincoln Parish Convention and Visitors Bureau
Small-town charm, a thriving college atmosphere and some of the best peaches you'll find — anywhere — Ruston is a can't-miss destination in north Louisiana. Discover what the city has in store for visitors by stopping at the Ruston Lincoln Parish Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Ruston, LA 71270
Historic Downtown Ruston
Ruston has a well-restored 22-block historic district, ideal for those who like to shop in small, locally-owned stores. The Main Street Community hosts a variety of buildings on the National Register of Historic Places that are related to the history of U.S. 80 and the railroad development in the area.
Ruston, LA 71270
Lincoln Parish Museum and Historical Society
This museum tells the history of Lincoln Parish, through a series of murals drawn from original historic photographs, vintage furnishings and various ancient and modern-era artifacts. Temporarily closed.
Ruston, LA 71270
Dixie Center for the Arts
Built as an Astor Theater in 1928 playing silent films and holding concerts, the theater survived both a fire in 1933 and the Great Depression. Fundraising campaigns were held and the theater was restored and re-opened in 2006, and is now the home for special events, parties and concerts.
Ruston, LA 71270
Biedenharn Museum and Gardens
Joseph Biedenharn made his fortune bottling Coca-Cola. The complex includes a Coke museum, a Bible museum, Biedenharn’s spacious 1913 mansion and a stunning walled English garden. Ten rooms of his home are available for viewing on the tour.
Monroe, LA 71201
Antique Alley
Trenton Street is at the heart of Antique Alley with its beginning in 1987. It has grown to over 40 shops. This historic neighborhood dates back to 1849 and is also known as the Cottonport Historical District. The area grew dramatically due to the building of a railroad bridge and the building of the Union Oil Mill.
West Monroe, LA 71291
Downtown River Market
The City of Monroe runs this downtown artisan and produce market, which also features live entertainment. Check out the River Market's website for an updated listing of events.
Monroe, LA 71201
Masur Museum of Art
This museum is set in a 1920s Tudor-style structure (listed on the National Register of Historic Places) with charming open spaces, hardwood floors and inviting year-round displays of a wide spectrum of art. The Masur Museum features a permanent collection of paintings, prints and sculpture, as well as six to eight exhibitions annually of art from museums and artists nationwide.
Monroe, LA 71202
Chennault Aviation and Military Museum
World War II hero and north Louisiana native General Claire Lee Chennault is celebrated at this museum, which houses aviation, military and space travel artifacts, plus numerous vintage aircraft.
Monroe, LA 71203
ULM Natural History Museum
Collections representing the natural history of North Louisiana of fish, plants and geological specimens including Native American artifacts. Located in Hanna Hall.
Monroe, LA 71203
Poverty Point World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Poverty Point contains some of the largest prehistoric American earthworks. A museum on site offers insights into those who lived here thousands of years ago.
Pioneer, LA 71266
Southern Heritage Air Foundation Museum
The foundation and 11,000 sq. foot museum is dedicated to educating people about the history of aviation and its impact on society, with a primary focus on the local region.
Tallulah, LA 71282
Grant's March/Grant's Canal
Grant’s march through Madison Parish can be traced along the farm roads east of Tallulah. The site of Grant’s Canal at Delta is marked and visible
Delta, LA 71233
Old Mississippi River Bridge
This historic U.S. 80 bridge over the Mississippi River was developed for highway and railroad use.
Mitcham Farms
In Louisiana, Ruston peaches are legendary, and among the farms growing these delectable fruits, Mitcham Farms is the most famous. At the Mitcham Farms Peach Store, you can pick up some sweet souvenirs, including everything from jellies and jams to gift baskets and drink mixes.
Ruston, LA 71270
North Louisiana Military Museum
The North Louisiana Military Museum memorializes those who served on different sides of battle lines dating back to the 1800s. From the Civil War to the War on Terror, you'll learn about the men and women in uniform, the challenges they faced, and the artifacts they left behind.
Ruston, LA 71270
D’Arbonne National Wildlife Refuge
Migratory birds and other wildlife make their home in the bottomland hardwood forest and surrounding waterways of D’Arbonne National Wildlife Refuge. Hunting, fishing, wildlife viewing and photography are popular activities in this refuge, which is an important overflow area for the Ouachita River floodplain.
Farmerville, LA 71241
Tensas River National Wildlife Refuge
Established in 1980, this 80,000-acre refuge preserves one of the largest privately owned tracts of bottomland hardwoods remaining in the Mississippi Delta. Over 400 species of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish can be found on the refuge.
Tallulah, LA 71282