Spring Street Historical Museum

About this museum

The building alone is worth the trip. Constructed in the 1860s as a commercial bank, the Spring Street Historical Museum's home is a piece of Shreveport history in its own right - a cast - iron - fronted structure that survived the Civil War, Reconstruction, the oil booms, and the slow economic shifts of the 20th century to stand as one of the oldest commercial buildings in the city. Step inside and you move through time twice: once through the architecture itself, and again through the museum's wide - ranging collection of artifacts, photographs, documents, and objects that trace Shreveport's complicated and fascinating history.The exhibits don't shy away from complexity. Shreveport's story involves the cotton economy, the petroleum industry, music (the city gave the country the Louisiana Hayride and launched the careers of Elvis Presley, Hank Williams, and Johnny Cash), civil rights struggles, and the evolution of a city that has always sat at a crossroads of Southern culture. The museum's diverse collection reflects all of it - from early Native American artifacts to 19th - century commercial and civic life to the 20th century in all its turbulence.With a 4.5 - star rating from more than 110 reviewers, the Spring Street Historical Museum has earned consistent praise from visitors who appreciate both the depth of the collection and the passion of the staff. It is a museum that clearly loves its subject.Admission is free, making it an ideal anchor for a walking tour of downtown Shreveport's historic district. The museum is located at 525 Spring Street and is open Tuesday through Friday and Saturday from 10 AM to 4 PM; it is closed Sunday and Monday. More information is available at springstreetmuseum.org. If you have any interest in Louisiana history, Southern culture, or simply beautiful old buildings, this museum deserves several hours of your time.