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Monroe is the largest city in northeast Louisiana and the seat of Ouachita Parish, set on the east bank of the Ouachita River across from its twin city, West Monroe. Home to the University of Louisiana at Monroe, it is a laid-back hub of bayous, oak-shaded neighborhoods and Southern cooking.
Monroe has a surprising place in aviation history: the crop-dusting company that became Delta Air Lines was based here in its early years, a story told at the Chennault Aviation and Military Museum. The Biedenharn Museum and Gardens preserves the home of the family of Joseph Biedenharn, the first bottler of Coca-Cola, and the Masur Museum of Art shows changing exhibitions in a historic riverside house.
Outdoors, Bayou Desiard winds past the university, the Louisiana Purchase Gardens and Zoo offers a shady family day out, and Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge protects cypress swamps on the edge of town. West Monroe's Antique Alley is just across the river.
The riverside estate of the Biedenharn family, whose patriarch Joseph Biedenharn first bottled Coca-Cola. Tour the family home, a Coca-Cola museum with vintage bottling equipment, a Bible museum and the formal ELsong Garden with fountains. Allow about two hours and check tour times ahead.
A museum at Monroe Regional Airport on the site of wartime Selman Field, which trained navigators. Exhibits honor General Claire Chennault and the Flying Tigers, Delta Air Lines' crop-dusting beginnings in Monroe, and local veterans, with aircraft displayed outside. Admission is free.
The region's main art museum, housed in a Tudor-style former home on South Grand Street along the Ouachita River. It shows rotating exhibitions of contemporary and regional art plus a permanent collection, and hosts talks and openings. Check the website for current shows and opening hours.
A city zoo set among moss-draped oaks, lagoons and formal gardens, home to animals from around the world including big cats, primates and native Louisiana wildlife. Seasonal train and boat rides add to the fun for kids. Go in the morning in summer, when the animals are more active.
A downtown children's museum with hands-on exhibits for younger kids, including pretend-play areas, building zones and science activities. It makes an easy indoor stop on a hot or rainy day. Best for children under about ten; check opening days, as hours vary through the year.
A wildlife refuge on the north edge of Monroe protecting a cypress and tupelo lake, bottomland forest and prairie. A long boardwalk and fishing pier lead over the water, and trails pass alligators, turtles and wading birds. The visitor center has exhibits; bring bug spray in warm months.
A long, quiet bayou that winds through Monroe past the University of Louisiana at Monroe campus and grand lakeside homes. Locals kayak, paddleboard and fish here, and the shoreline is lovely at sunset. Several public access points and university waterfront spots make easy places to launch.
A residential historic district south of downtown with early 20th-century homes in Colonial Revival, Craftsman and Tudor styles under big oak trees. It is a pleasant area for a slow walk or drive, and it sits close to the Masur Museum and the Biedenharn gardens along the river.
A seasonal Saturday-morning market on the downtown Monroe riverfront, with local produce, baked goods, crafts and food vendors, often with live music. It is a good way to meet the community and try regional treats. Arrive early for the best selection and check the season dates before you go.
The city's public university sits along the banks of Bayou Desiard, with a scenic waterfront campus, the Warhawks football stadium and a natural history museum. Visitors can stroll the bayou-side grounds or catch a home game in the fall. Parking is easiest on weekends and during breaks.
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Photo: Billy Hathorn, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Billy Hathorn, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
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Photo: Billy Hathorn, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Billy Hathorn, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
Photo: Billy Hathorn, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Billy Hathorn, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
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Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Region, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Region, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Region, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: Ktkvtsh, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Ktkvtsh, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Ktkvtsh, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Ktkvtsh, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Ktkvtsh, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Michael Barera, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Billy Hathorn, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Michael Barera, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
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