Cultural Experiences

If you’re spending an afternoon or evening in downtown Lake Charles, you can top off any dining or shopping adventure with a side of culture by checking out the 1911 Historic City Hall* to see local art and traveling exhibits. The multifaceted facility features multiple floors of exhibit space, which includes the Black Heritage Gallery* and Gallery by the Lake* – located across from the historic Calcasieu Parish Courthouse.

1911 Historic City Hall in Downtown Lake Charles, LA

Around the corner and down the street from 1911, Central School Arts & Humanities Center* houses the Mardi Gras Museum* where you can experience the magic of the season yearround. Stunning royal attire, detailed drawings for the costume design process, the history on King Cakes and more is on display. Central School also houses artist studios and office space for local arts groups, including the Children’s Theatre.

For a full scope on Imperial Calcasieu’s history, meander over to the Imperial Calcasieu Museum* where a 300-yearold Sallier Oak graces the grounds with it’s lush shade and roots that run as deep as the culture in Southwest Louisiana. Learn about the early days of the Lake Charles area and view exhibits on display.

On the west side of the river, the Henning Cultural Center sits next to The Grove Park and Heritage Square Pavilion where outdoor events take place. The Cultural Center is tucked way beneath sleepy oak trees, and it features local art and exhibits year-round along with artifacts and information on Sulphur’s past as a sulfur mining town.

Henning Cultural Center in Sulphur, LA

The DeQuincy Railroad Museum* in the northern part of Calcasieu Parish is located inside the Kansas City Southern Railroad Depot built in 1923, also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. There are two passenger waiting rooms, a central agent/ticket office, a baggage room, and an open veranda on the bottom floor. On the museum grounds, you will also find a 1913 steam locomotive, two vintage cabooses and a 1947 Pullman passenger coach! Each April, the Louisiana Railroad Days Festival celebrates the history of DeQuincy as a railroad town!

For a full description of the museums and galleries as well as arts events in the area, log on to VisitLakeCharles.org.

*Please note that the museums and galleries in this story were impacted by Hurricanes Laura and Delta in the fall of 2020. Check on hours of operation and availability of access to the buildings prior to making plans.