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Abandoned Louisiana - A Warm Spring Day at Texas Avenue in Shreveport


Last September I spent some time walking around downtown Shreveport taking photos. One of the areas that I found most interesting centered around a group of abandoned buildings on Texas Avenue. Today I traveled further down that road and I discovered an all but forgotten and mostly abandoned part of the city. 

If you cross over the Red River from Bossier City on old Highway 79 you will find yourself on Texas Street in the busy section of downtown Shreveport. If you take that street through downtown you will eventually find yourself smack dab in front of the majestic First United Methodist Church with the option of turning left or right on Common. You will need to take a left and then an immediate jog to the right and you will now find yourself on Texas Avenue. This is when the landscape quickly changes from preserved historical buildings to an area that is mostly forgotten and abandoned.

It is very apparent that at one time this section of old Highway 79 (Texas Ave) was a very prosperous section of downtown Shreveport. Now, however, it is an area that has become isolated between the I20 and I49 freeways. The reason why this section of downtown Shreveport became an afterthought is a story that has played out over several areas of our country. With the construction of the two afore mentioned freeways just a short distance away there was no need to travel down the old highway anymore and because of the loss of traffic the businesses simply dried up. 

There are still some businesses along old Texas Avenue that are hanging on. I discovered an amazing pop art studio/antique store called C&C Mercantile that in my opinion is a must see for anyone visiting Shreveport.

I will be doing a post about C&C very soon!

I would actually list a trip down Texas Avenue as a must see for anyone interested in seeing a bit of Shreveport's forgotten downtown history. 

Here are some of the highlights from my trip down Texas Avenue:    






























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  1. Paul BoudiniSeptember 17, 2024 at 8:35 PM

    Great pics....very well written Ken. I lived on Centenary and played music in Shreveport & Bossier back in the 70's / 80's. I do remember when some of those areas were occupied and bustling with business. Your photos brought back fond memories of this area. Thanks for sharing this well presented snipit of history.

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