Bogalusa: Timber Industry and Civil Rights History

Bogalusa offers several distinct points of interest for your trip: the city’s development, the local civil rights movement, cultural institutions, and a Blues & Heritage Festival. If you’re looking for a hotel, you can first decide which focus is the reason for your stay. The city’s history leads back to its founding and industrial development, while its civil rights history is shaped by people, meetings, and public demands. The festival offers another, independent reason to visit. A look at the dates puts these topics in chronological context: Bogalusa was founded in 1906; demonstrations in front of Bogalusa City Hall took place in 1965.

Industrial History and Urban Development

Bogalusa was founded in 1906 by the Goodyear family and built around the Great Southern Lumber Company. Its founding and development around the company describe different aspects of the city’s growth. The Bogalusa Paper Mill Museum presents the city’s history. The connection to the company and the presentation of the city’s history thus offer two different perspectives on Bogalusa.

Civil Rights History in Bogalusa

The civil rights history can be understood through its people, meeting places, and public demands. Members of the local Black union at the Crown Zellerbach mill, including A.Z. Young and Bob Hicks, organized and led the local civil rights movement. The Robert “Bob” Hicks House served as a center for civil rights work from 1965 to 1969. The Bogalusa Civic and Voters League and the Bogalusa chapter of the Deacons for Defense and Justice held regular meetings there. The demonstrations in front of Bogalusa City Hall in 1965 were a separate event. They called for an end to segregation in public facilities and workplace discrimination. The house represents a center for civil rights work over several years; the demonstrations at City Hall mark a distinct context of public protest.

Cultural Sites and Festival

Bogalusa is home to the Bogalusa Historic Cultural District. The Pioneer Museum is located in Cassidy Park in Bogalusa. The Bogalusa Blues & Heritage Festival brings together blues musicians, local artists, food vendors, and families. As a festival, it is distinct from the city’s historical sites and can offer its own reason to visit.

Getting Your Bearings

Two different scales are useful for getting your bearings. Louisiana Highways 10 and 21 intersect in Bogalusa. The Zachary Taylor Byway connects Bogalusa and Pineville along a 203-mile route. The highway intersection is a landmark in Bogalusa; the byway describes a longer connection between two cities. Thus, one detail answers the question of where to find a landmark in town, while the other gives the endpoints and length of a route.

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