For Immediate Release, Wednesday, June 07, 2006

Parish Building Named to National Register of Historic Places  

            The Camp Salmen House, a 200-year-old French Creole cottage located on 105 acres of Parish-owned land, has been added to the National Register of Historic Places. 

            Parish President Kevin Davis made application to the Register earlier this year, and officials were notified a few weeks ago of the designation.  The Camp Salmen land, 105 acres of mostly wooded property on Bayou Liberty near Slidell, was purchased by the Parish in 2004 for $2.25 million, with most of the funding coming from the federal and state governments. The Trust for Public Land purchased the property in 2001 to preserve the property’s natural beauty, and worked with Davis to secure monies for the eventual acquisition by Parish Government. 

            The Old Camp Salmen property is considered rich in natural and archaeological resources. Evidence suggests the land was continuously inhabited as far back as 10,000 B.C.E.  Natural resources from the area were harvested for use in the development of New Orleans in the 18^th and 19^th centuries. 

            The Camp Salmen House is a structure in the French Creole cottage style.  The building is approximately 200 years old and is in remarkably good condition. 

            Preparations to make the Camp Salmen property open to the public as a passive recreation area were slowed by Hurricane Katrina.  A master plan of the property has been completed by the National Park Service and funding is sought for implementation. 

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