charpentier historic district

Very interesting to drive or walk around the homes, many from 1880-1920 with a surprising range of architectural styles. Definitely get the information about the houses from the visitor center on lakeshore.

Beautiful, Victorian architecture. The style is unique to this area and covers a large part of the downtown and lakefront areas. Well worth the tour, especially during the holidays. Take a carriage ride to see it at a leisurely pace.

This article says it so much better than I can..... (from the Lake Charles Southwest Louisiana Getaway Guide Brochure)"The romantic history of Lake Charles, involving tales of pirates and buried treasure, began with the arrival of the 1st French settlers in the 1760's. The lumber boom, fueled by vast woodlands in the area, was responsible for the rapid growth of the city in those early years. Without architects in the area until the early 1900's, the structures reflect the individual characteristics of the carpenters and builders, and the "Charpentier Historic District" is named after the carpenters that built the Victorian homes and mansions in Lake Charles, This district is on the National Register of Historic places." I've been driving through this historic district since High School. I even did a paper on Unique Architecture of Southwest Louisiana for my Louisiana Culture Class in 12th Grade. My teacher Ms. Ardoin encouraged my love of art and history in this most unique state of the Union. If you LOVE older architecture like I do or just crave a little bit of class from the past, don't miss this lushly picturesque walking or driving tour (avoid walking in the Summer due to dangerous heat and humidity)Lots to see and boy howdy some of these mansions are incredibly Grandiose!

Some amazing old homes. Beutiful reminders of a time when when pride, elegance and functionality were put into our homes. Be aware of your surroundings. Not the safest neighborhood in town.

Take the time to stroll through these beautiful neighborhoods and appreciate the lovely architecture and wonderful trees. It is so nice that the old homes are being restored, history preserved!

Although this part of town has grown a lot in the past few years, first time visitors here should be aware of this area. Yes, it is beautiful at night with all the lights and brick corners, but you must be careful as this area is known for crime.

Before eating breakfast, we strolled through this area, I am quite surprised at how well the downtown Lake Charles area renovation is coming along.

Drive along the quiet, beautiful, tree-lined streets to get a sense of history and to view a great variety of sub-tropical plants like gingers, palms, bananas, and others. The azaleas in spring and the camellias in January and February were beautiful.

The historical district in Lake Charles is a very beautiful piece of our history. A very peaceful, enjoyable tour can be taken by horse-drawn carriage. This is a great experience for lake area locals and visitors alike. We took this tour with our two children and they also enjoyed it very much. Most days of the week Roger's Carriages can be found behind the Civic Center waiting to give you a beautiful tour and lots of great history information about our beautiful Lake Charles.

Very nice historical district. Beautiful old homes and lush landscaping. Great for a leisure walk