SHREVEPORT, La. – A generous $20,000 seed donation from the Rotary Club of South Shreveport will fund a new covered pavilion at the Louisiana State University Shreveport (LSUS) Pioneer Heritage Center. The structure, planned for the northeast corner of the LSUS campus, will provide a shaded gathering place for visitors, students and community members.
Purpose and Features
The pavilion will be equipped with fans and a sturdy roof, giving guests a comfortable spot to rest during tours of the living‑history museum. LSUS historian and Pioneer Heritage Center director Marty Young said the addition will enable the center to broaden its programming, including potential folklife workshops and Dutch oven cooking classes that highlight regional traditions.
Community Support and History
The Rotary Club’s contribution continues a long‑standing partnership with LSUS. In previous years the club helped fund the planting of crepe myrtle trees along the university’s main entrance, enhancing the campus’s curb appeal. During the groundbreaking ceremony for the pavilion, LSUS Chancellor Robert T. Smith and other community leaders hammered hand‑forged nails into a wooden beam, symbolizing the connection between the past and the future.
Impact on Local Culture
The Pioneer Heritage Center serves as a living museum where visitors can experience life on the ArkLaTex frontier through historic buildings, period artifacts and interactive exhibits. By adding a dedicated pavilion, the center will be better equipped to host educational programs, family gatherings and civic events, reinforcing its role as a cultural hub for Shreveport and the surrounding region.
Timeline
Construction of the pavilion is slated to begin this fall, though it will not be completed in time for this year’s Pioneer Day celebration on Oct. 24. The event remains open to the public and will showcase the center’s existing historic structures and exhibits.
Looking Ahead
Chancellor Smith emphasized that the project reflects LSUS’s growth and its deepening ties to the local community. “This pavilion is a tangible reminder of how our university and our neighbors work together to preserve and celebrate our shared heritage,” he said.
Local residents and visitors can look forward to a new, comfortable space that supports both education and community engagement, further cementing the Pioneer Heritage Center’s place as a beloved landmark in Shreveport.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
