Discover Hammond: History, Art and Events

Get to know Hammond through several distinct themes: history in the downtown district, performing arts, contemporary art and events. When choosing where to stay, it helps to think ahead about which of these themes you want to shape your trip. A walking tour explores the Hammond Historic District on foot; the Columbia Theatre for the Performing Arts hosts concerts and performances, while the Hammond Smokin’ BBQ Challenge takes place every March. You can tailor your search for a hotel in Hammond to the experiences that interest you most.

History on foot and in the cityscape

The walking tour of the Hammond Historic District in downtown includes twenty stops and can be explored online or in person. You can learn about the tour online or experience it on foot during your stay in Hammond. The twenty stops give the historical focus a concrete framework and make the tour a distinct way to explore downtown.

At Railroad Park, historical markers highlight the importance of trains and strawberries in Hammond. This offers a different perspective from the tour: here, the focus is on two specific themes, while the Historic District tour includes twenty stops. If you are interested in the city’s history, you can explore it in different ways—with a walking tour and information on markers.

Hands-on learning, performing arts and visual art

The Louisiana Children’s Discovery Center is located in Hammond’s historic downtown district and offers children and their families a hands-on play and learning experience. Its focus on families and learning by doing defines this offering. For families looking to include a playful learning experience in their trip, it is a clearly defined destination within the city.

The Columbia Theatre for the Performing Arts in Downtown Hammond hosts classical and contemporary concerts, dance and theater performances, musicals and other special events throughout the year. Its program spans different performing arts and is not limited to just one type of event. If you want to include a particular performance in your travel plans, check the current schedule before your visit.

The Southeastern Louisiana University Contemporary Art Gallery presents national and regional contemporary art exhibitions. Its profile is defined by its focus on contemporary art and exhibitions with both regional and national reach. Together with the Columbia Theatre’s performing arts program, it highlights the distinction between visual art and live performances: you can plan your visit around which of these cultural offerings you would like to experience in person.

Events and exhibitions

The Hammond Smokin’ BBQ Challenge takes place every March in Downtown Hammond. The competition began in 2003 and includes a main professional competition, the local Backyard Challenge and a children’s division. These competitions are part of the same event but each has a different focus. The Challenge offers a specific occasion whose format is itself divided into several areas. Since it takes place in March, check the exact event dates when planning your trip.

The Hammond Regional Arts Center also offers a recurring exhibition schedule: since its founding, it has hosted monthly art exhibitions recognized locally, regionally and nationally. By comparison, the Southeastern Louisiana University Contemporary Art Gallery describes its focus in terms of contemporary art and national and regional exhibitions. If you want to include art in your trip, these different profiles can help guide you: a monthly exhibition schedule at the Arts Center and a contemporary focus at the Gallery.

Explore more destinations: Tickfaw, Ponchatoula, Amite City.

For the broader travel overview: Tangipahoa Parish.