Landrieu Introduces Bill to Help Plaquemines Parish Historical Sites Join National Park Service

Press Release

United States Senator Mary L. Landrieu, D-La., today introduced the Lower Mississippi River National Historic Site Study Act. The bill will direct the Secretary of the Interior to study the suitability and feasibility of designating sites in Plaquemines Parish along the Lower Mississippi River Area as a unit of the National Park System.

"This area in Southeastern Louisiana has contributed much to our nation's history, and there are many stories that have yet to be preserved for the future generations," Sen. Landrieu said. "Unless Congress acts to preserve these historical assets, they will be lost forever. That is why I am again, for the third time, introducing this legislation. It is important that this legislation become law, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to enact it."

"This is a great opportunity for Louisiana to have these forts join the National Park Service," said Plaquemines Parish President Billy Nungesser. "Knowing these forts are registered in the National Park system should help increase tourism for our state."

In order to become a unit in the National Park System, the Department of Interior must first conduct a special resources study to determine whether an area possesses nationally significant natural, cultural or recreational resources to be eligible for favorable consideration. The bill asks the Department of Interior to take the first step in determining that the Lower Mississippi River Area would be a suitable and feasible asset to the National Park Service.

This area has vast historical significance and is an area with rich cultural history. In the 1500s, Spanish explorers traveled along the banks of the river. In 1682, Robert de LaSalle claimed all the land drained by the area. In 1699, the area became the site of the first fortification on the Lower Mississippi river, known as Fort Mississippi. Since then, it has been home to 10 different fortifications, including Fort St. Philip and Fort Jackson.

Fort St. Philip, which was originally built in 1749, played a key role during the Battle of New Orleans, the final major battle in the War of 1812, when American soldiers blocked the British Navy from going upriver. Fort Jackson was built at the request of General Andrew Jackson and partially constructed by famous local Civil War General P.G.T. Beauregard. This fort was the site of the famous Civil War battle known as the "Battle of Forts," which is also referred to as the "night the war was lost."

In addition, there are many other important and unique attributes to this area. This area is home to the longest continuous river road and levee system in the U.S. It is also home to the ancient Head of Passes site, to the Plaquemines Bend, and to two national wildlife refuges.

"It is easy to see why this area would make an excellent addition to the National Park Service," Sen. Landrieu said. "However, the longer Congress takes to act, the greater the opportunity for these treasures and their rich history to erode away. Unfortunately, this area has weathered the passing of several hurricanes, including Katrina, and is now suffering from the impacts of the BP oil spill. All of these events threaten to destroy these historical assets, but this need not be the case. These assets need protection and this is the first step in securing it."

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