Lake Providence, Louisiana
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Lake Providence - Where Louisiana Begins!
Located in East Carroll Parish in the northeast corner of
Louisiana, the town of Lake Providence offers some of the
most spectacular views to be found anywhere in the
American South.
The town takes its name from Lake Providence, a striking
body of water that can be seen for miles along U.S. 65 just
south of the Arkansas line. An oxbow lake, although much
larger than the norm, Lake Providence was formed long
ago when the Mississippi River changed course and
shifted slightly to the east. The lake it left behind is a
spectacular natural resource, noted for its fishing, wildlife
and scenic views. The spectacular scenery even attracted
the attention of President Teddy Roosevelt, who came to
East Carroll Parish to hunt and explore in 1907.
The area was in the heart of the Cotton Kingdom of the
Mississippi Delta and over the years untold thousands of
bales of cotton were shipped out via riverboat from the Lake
Providence area. The Louisiana State Cotton Museum,
located on the lake front just north of town, interprets the
state's rich cotton history with interpretive exhibits, restored
buildings, farm equipment and agricultural displays.
During the Civil War, thousands of Union soldiers camped
on the banks of Lake Providence. General U.S. Grant
began one of his attempts to bypass the Confederate
stronghold of Vicksburg here, by digging a canal to connect
the lake and Bayou Macon to the Mississippi River. He
hoped to use the waterways to allow steamboats to safely
steam around Vicksburg without coming under the guns of
the Confederate batteries there.
The effort failed, but a section of the 100 foot wide, 5 foot
deep canal can still be scene at Grant's Canal Park, across
from the Byerley House Welcome Center on U.S. 65.
Interpretive markers explain the significance of the canal
and wooden walkways and a gazebo provide stunning
views of Lake Providence.
Also of interest nearby is Poverty Point State Historic Site, a
massive complex of prehistoric Native American mounds
and earthworks.
Lake Providence is on the Great River Road scenic route
that follows the Mississippi River. To learn more about
points of interest in the area, please follow the links below:
View from Grant's Canal Park Lake Providence, Louisiana
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Gazebo at Grant's Canal Park Lake Providence, Louisiana
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Museum and Interpretive Center Poverty Point State Historic Site
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