Louisiana unveils African American Heritage Trail

NEW ORLEANS – Louisiana tourism officials Wednesday unveiled the first 26 sites on an African American Heritage Trail running from New Orleans to northern Louisiana.
“It will tell the stories of African Americans who have made contributions to Louisiana, to American and to the world,” said Chuck Morse, Assistant Secretary of the Louisiana Office of Tourism. “It makes us proud, but it’s not about pride totally. It’s also about the economy.”
There are 26 stops on the trail to begin with, although that will be expanded. Included are the expected – plantations with details about slaves’ lives, and the early roots of jazz – and the unexpected – such as Melrose Plantation, built and owned and operated by a former slave, who in turn became a slave owner.
Heritage tourism trails are routes that lead visitors to specialty points of interest. They constitute a fast-growing type of tourism, Morse said. Louisiana is in the process of developing a series of such trails, ranging from a Culinary Trail to a Civil War Trail.
According to the Travel Industry Associations of America, more and more travelers are seeking the authentic American experience offered through cultural and heritage tourism. The organization said 81 percent of the 146.4 million U.S. adults who took a trip of 50 miles or more away from home in the past year included historical or cultural activities on at least one of their trips.
“People are looking for authentic places and the stories that go with them,” Morse said. “Trails help them find them easily.'”
Louisiana is an important destination for African American travel because of the Bayou Classic – an annual football game between traditionally black colleges Southern University and Grambling – and the Essence Music Festival, Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu said during Wednesday’s news conference. Both events are held in the Superdome.
The new trail makes the entire state a museum, Landrieu said.
“If you look at what made this country great, much of it came from the African American culture in Louisiana,” Landrieu said.
A national and possibly international advertising campaign will help promote the new trail, Morse said. He was not sure of the budget, but said more than $100,000 had already been spent.