Holly Grove Methodist Church was founded in 1834 and is believed to be the oldest protestant church in continuous operation west of the Mississippi. Local legend has it that the church served as a stop on the underground railroad in its early years. It is listed on the National Register…

The Old Mitchell Graveyard is the first known cemetery to exist in Vernon Parish. Two Revolutionary War soldiers are known to be buried there.

The Civil War Breastworks at Burr Ferry were erected during the Civil War to protect Texas from invasion. They are one of the few remaining earthen fortifications in Louisiana and the only Civil War site in Vernon Parish. This site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and…

The Burr's Ferry Bridge was built in 1936-37 by the W. Horace Williams Company under the Works Progress Administration. It spans the Sabine River and connects Texas Highway 63 with Louisiana Highway 8. The design of the Burr's Ferry Bridge addressed difficult site conditions and employed innovative solutions, including the…

The Talbert-Pierson Cemetery is next to Pine Grove Methodist Church. The cemetery contains some unusual wooden grave houses.  The origins of gravehouses are uncertain. Many believe that it began as a means of protecting the graves before cemeteries were commonly fenced.  Special trees were cut from the nearby woods then…

The Fort Johnson Military Museum is housed in a new 3600-square-foot facility with objects and historical artifacts relating to Fort Polk history, including uniforms, equipment, weapons, training aids and more to help visitors understand the role that Fort Polk has played in preparing the Army for war. In addition, a…

Fort Johnson (Fort Polk) covers 198,963 acres in permanent building, housing, and training ranges. It was part of the famous "Louisiana Maneuvers" which took place in the early 1940s and was the largest training maneuver of its kind staged before or since. The army base has the second largest payroll…

The Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs opened their second Veterans Cemetery in 2012. Located on two hundred acres donated by the U.S. Army, the cemetery is open to members of any U.S. military branch, their spouse and dependent children. It is open daily for visitation and has a computerized grave…

The Ferguson House is a Victorian Style house once home to G.R. Ferguson, who was the General Manager for the Nona Mills Lumber Company. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Built in the style popular for large commercial buildings at the beginning of the 20th century, the lower floor housed the First National Bank and several retail stores. The upper floor was occupied by an opera house, known as the National Theatre. The bank closed during the depression but the…

The First United Methodist Church was established by the Methodist families of the Nona Mills Lumber Company. Built in the Mission / Spanish Revival style, the church has retained all of its original stained glass windows. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

When Vernon Parish was first created in 1871, Dr. Edmund E. Smart donated a block of land for the first courthouse and other city structures. Early leaders built a simple wood-frame structure which served the new community well until the 1880’s when citizens were able to finance a more substantial…

The Lyons Building is Italianate in style. The flat roof, imposing cornices, and arched windows combine to form one of Leesville’s oldest and most elegant buildings. At the main entrance to the building, you will see the original mosaic tile which still runs throughout the first floor of the building.…

The Benson H. Lyons House (c. 1900) is a large Queen Anne Revival style residence with prominent Eastlake features. The double wraparound gallery that outlines three sides of the home is bedecked with elaborate woodwork which makes this one of the most pretentious homes in Vernon Parish. According to tradition,…