Shreveport sits on the Red River in the northwest corner of Louisiana, paired with Bossier City on the opposite bank. Together they form the cultural and commercial hub of the Ark-La-Tex region, where Louisiana, Arkansas, and Texas meet.
The city owes its existence to Captain Henry Miller Shreve, who in the 1830s cleared the 165-mile "Great Raft" — a massive logjam blocking the Red River — opening the area to steamboat commerce. Agriculture, lumber, oil, and now casino gambling have driven the economy in turn.
Shreveport has a handful of worthwhile cultural draws. The American Rose Center, the largest public rose garden in North America, is at its best in spring and autumn. The R.W. Norton Art Gallery has a strong collection of Western and American art. The Shreveport Municipal Auditorium hosted the Louisiana Hayride radio show that launched Elvis Presley and Hank Williams. The riverboat casinos along the Red River draw visitors from across the tristate area.