Top 15 Attractions and Activities in Monroe, Louisiana

Summary of Top Attractions in Monroe, Louisiana:

The largest city in Northeast Louisiana is situated on the west bank of the Ouachita River, directly opposite its counterpart West Monroe.

Monroe derives its name from a paddle wheeler, the James Monroe, which made a groundbreaking voyage up the Ouachita River from the Mississippi, arriving here in 1819.

The city serves as a cultural hub for this region of the state, offering exceptional museums, a symphony orchestra, and the University of Louisiana at Monroe.

Monroe has been home to notable individuals such as Joseph A. Biedenharn, recognized for being the first to bottle Coca-Cola, and Claire Lee Chennault, who commanded the Flying Tigers during World War II.

There are dedicated museums honoring both figures, located at the distinguished Biedenharn Museum & Gardens and the Chennault Aviation and Military Museum near Monroe Regional Airport.

1. Masur Museum of Art

Established in 1963, the Masur Family of Monroe donated their Tudor-style mansion and remarkable art collection to the city.

The Masur Museum of Art is now the preeminent attraction of its kind in Northeast Louisiana, featuring an extensive collection of 19th-century and contemporary art.

Esteemed works by artists such as Thomas Hart Benton, Mary Cassatt, Miró, Picasso, Rodin, Dalí, and Georges Rouault are part of the collection.

Additionally, there is a selection of artists affiliated with Louisiana, including Clyde Connell, Lynda Benglis, and Alexander John Drysdale.

Alongside the permanent collection, the Masur Museum of Art hosts up to eight exhibitions annually, including a national juried competition each spring.

The mansion was constructed in 1929 for Mabel Chauvin, the wife of lumberman Clarence Edward Slagle, and was acquired by the Masur Family during the Great Depression.

The Indiana limestone and Pennsylvania blue slate used in its construction were transported down the Ouachita River specifically for this project.

2. Biedenharn Museum & Gardens

A notable local figure who significantly influenced modern life is entrepreneur Joseph A. Biedenharn (1864-1952).

He is recognized for being the first individual to bottle Coca-Cola, which was previously only available as a soda fountain drink, in 1894, and he relocated the bottling operation to Monroe in 1913.

During his time in Monroe, he also contributed to the development of the business that eventually became Delta Air Lines, moving the headquarters to Atlanta in 1941. Visitors can explore Biedenharn’s residence, built in 1913, surrounded by elegant English gardens.

The home is available for guided tours, presented as it was during the time Biedenharn’s daughter Emma Louise (Emy-Lou) resided there until 1984.

A Coca-Cola Museum exhibits two rooms filled with historical Coke memorabilia, alongside a Bible Museum featuring a collection curated by Emma Louise, which includes an original 1611 King James Bible and a page from the 1454-55 Gutenberg Bible.

3. Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge

Located north of Monroe, this 4,200-acre wildlife refuge provides an escape composed of a diverse range of habitats, including a lake, bottomland hardwoods, swamps, and mixed pine and hardwood uplands.

Among the wildlife species observed at Black Bayou Lake are red-eared sliders, American alligators, green herons, bird-voiced tree frogs, orioles, and white-tailed deer.

The Visitor Center serves as an excellent starting point, featuring interactive exhibits related to these habitats, set within an 1880s Acadian planter’s house.

A Nature Trail boardwalk encircles the lake, offering opportunities to extend over the water via a pier, enhancing wildlife observation chances.

Black Bayou Lake is essentially a submerged forest, with remnants providing perches for various waterbirds.

With the ghostly remains of long-dead bald cypress and tupelo trees protruding from the water, the lake presents a captivating location for a paddling excursion, with kayak or canoe rentals available through the Friends of Black Bayou.

4. Chennault Aviation and Military Museum

A prominent figure who spent a significant portion of his life in Monroe was military aviator Claire Lee Chennault (1893-1958), renowned for commanding the First American Volunteer Group (AVG), also known as the “Flying Tigers,” and the Chinese Air Force during WWII.

A dedicated museum in his honor can be found at Monroe Regional Airport, housed in one of the last surviving structures used by the Selman Field Army-Air Corps Navigation School (1942-1945).

Visitors can explore comprehensive exhibits detailing Chennault’s life and the Flying Tigers, along with other notable Monroe aviation figures such as astronaut Jim Halsell (b. 1956), and the history of Selman Field.

Additionally, the museum presents the intriguing history of Delta Airlines, which was based in Monroe from the mid-1920s, initially as a crop-dusting service, until 1941.

The Chennault Aviation and Military Museum boasts a significant and expanding collection of military artifacts from all five branches, as well as an impressive assortment of relics from Nazi Germany.

5. Pecanland Mall

Established in 1985, this mall in Monroe continues to serve as a shopping hub for much of northern Louisiana, with one of its main attractions being a ten-screen Cinemark theater.

Pecanland Mall remains in excellent condition, offering over 80 stores and services, including well-known retailers such as JCPenney, H&M, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Foot Locker, Belk, Dillard’s, Old Navy, rue21, and Victoria’s Secret.

A vibrant food court by the Cinemark entrance is illuminated by a skylight and features popular dining options like Chick-fil-A, Raising Cane’s, Sbarro, Auntie Anne’s, and Yummy Japan.

6. Downtown RiverMarket

Adjacent to the court on Monroe’s riverfront lies a beautiful stretch of boardwalk equipped with traditional French-style market shelters.

This is Downtown RiverMarket, which hosts a variety of vendors on the first and third Saturday of each month, from March to May and then again from October to early December.

Here, visitors can typically find fresh produce, prepared foods, artisanal crafts, and numerous Louisiana-specific products.

Downtown RiverMarket offers an excellent locale for sunset views over the river, particularly during festive events like the July 4 and Christmas on the River fireworks displays.

7. Antique Alley

Located just across the river in West Monroe, there exists a charming commercial district along Trenton Street. Antique Alley falls within the CottonPort Historic District, officially designated in 2019.

As its name suggests, Antique Alley is populated with small local businesses, featuring several antique stores, including Cotton Port Antique Mall, Country Lane Antiques, and Trenton Street Antiques.

These establishments are complemented by galleries, a comic & collectibles shop, boutiques, restaurants, and a location of the regional craft brewery, Flying Heart.

Antique Alley is lively with events, particularly outdoor activities held at the newly established Alley Park, located at the junction of Trenton and Natchitoches Street.

8. University of Louisiana at Monroe (ULM)

Part of the University of Louisiana System, ULM was founded in 1931, and offers numerous attractions for visitors.

Notably, the new Bayou Pointe Event Center, inaugurated in 2018, features a state-of-the-art theater for performances by the Monroe Symphony Orchestra and other events.

The Museum of Natural History is another prominent attraction, focusing on Louisiana’s natural heritage and boasting a vast collection that includes Native American artifacts, dinosaur fossils, minerals, and wildlife specimens.

In terms of athletics, ULM competes with 15 teams in the NCAA Division I as the Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks, with men’s and women’s basketball and women’s volleyball teams playing at the 7,085-seat Fant-Ewing Coliseum, which also hosts concerts and significant university events.

9. Louisiana Purchase Gardens & Zoo

Monroe has maintained a zoo for over a century, continuing to serve as an engaging visitor destination, showcasing over 400 animals from approximately 200 species.

Expect to see lions, tigers, baboons, zebras, gibbons, bison, and a variety of exotic animals from around the world. A recently added exhibit titled “Australia: The Land Down Under” features animals from Oceania, such as wallabies and umbrella cockatoos.

The delightful Children’s Zoo allows young visitors to interact with friendly domestic animals like goats, miniature cows, sheep, and a small horse.

10. Northeast Louisiana Delta African American Museum

Situated just east of Monroe Regional Airport off Millhaven Road, this museum chronicles the history of African American life in Northeast Louisiana through the ages.

This establishment places a strong emphasis on art, housing the largest collection of works by the renowned Expressionist artist and Northeast Louisiana native, Don Cincone (b. 1937). The extensive collection also features pieces by Agnes Hicks and Bernard Menyweather.

The archival section highlights prominent African American figures, including social reformer and statesman Frederick Douglass (1817 or 1818-1895), educator Mary Bethune (1875-1955), and the first African American millionaire, cosmetics entrepreneur Madam C. J. Walker (1867-1919).

11. Forsythe Park

Adjacent to the Biedenharn Museum, Forsythe Park encompasses more than 50 acres and is known for its well-maintained grounds and variety of activities.

The park features a dedicated children’s area, putt-putt golf, a nine-hole golf course, as well as facilities for softball, soccer, and tennis. Furthermore, Forsythe Park serves as the starting point for a network of six bike trails developed by the Monroe Advocates for Safe Streets.

Just beyond the levee lies a boat launch, a jogging path, and beach volleyball courts alongside the Ouachita River. Forsythe Park also previously had an outdoor pool; however, its future status was uncertain at the time of this article.

12. Kiroli Park

Regarded as one of the finest parks in the metro area, Kiroli Park spans 160 wooded acres on the northern edge of West Monroe.

A key highlight of Kiroli Park is the exceptional Civitan Smiles Park, an inclusive playground equipped with colorful, state-of-the-art amenities set in a scenic landscape.

Within the park, visitors can find jogging and nature trails, a fishing pond, shaded picnic areas, charming gardens, and a theater stage that hosts the Ballet Under the Stars during the spring.

For those visiting with dogs, the Raising Cane’s Dog Park features distinct spaces for small and large canines. Kiroli Park charges a nominal admission fee of $1 per person, with the option of purchasing an annual pass for $100.

13. Flying Tiger Brewery

This local success story is a craft brewery founded in Monroe in 2016. Flying Tiger Brewery produces and packages its entire product line in Monroe, featuring a welcoming taproom and beer garden at 506 N 2nd St.

The brewery’s name pays homage to the First American Volunteer Group (AVG) (The Flying Tigers), whose leader, Gen. Chennault, resided in Monroe.

Each beer reflects the AVG theme, including flagship brews like Burma Blonde, Man at Arms (Amber Ale), and Heroic Hops (IPA). Additionally, seasonal offerings include Milk Stout and Warhawk (Pilsner).

The taproom is conveniently located near a plethora of dining options in downtown Monroe and boasts a spacious patio.

14. Northeast Louisiana Children’s Museum

Located on the Ouachita River in downtown Monroe, this museum promotes children’s development through experiential learning and interactive exhibits.

Every aspect of the Northeast Louisiana Children’s Museum is designed to be engaging, simulating adult environments for educational play.

In this vein, the Kids Cafe enables children to explore employment and nutrition concepts, while they can role-play healthcare professions at the Discovery Hospital, care for infants in a mini NICU, and even enter a giant heart to hear its beats.

The White House introduces young minds to the government and the role of the President, while The Baby Bayou provides a vibrant and interactive play area for children aged three and under.

15. Christmas on the River

Monroe-West Monroe excels during the holiday season with a series of family-oriented festivities along the Ouachita River, featuring attractions highlighted in this article.

Among the highlights are dazzling Christmas lights, two festive parades, a fireworks display, and an array of cultural performances.

Children can visit Santa’s village at the Northeast Louisiana Children’s Museum, enjoy a variety of festive events at the Biedenharn Museum, and partake in Christmas-themed activities at Antique Alley and the Monroe RiverMarket.