The Louisiana Hayride Lives On - Shreveport's Municipal Auditorium national historic landmark

The U.S. Interior Department has announced that Shreveport's Municipal Auditorium has been declared a national historic landmark in the US. 'It's a wonderful designation that, hopefully, will allow us to go out and find grant money and other additional funding to do the things we need to do to make that a functional place', said Shreveport Councilman Michael Long, a musician who has been active with The Foundation for Arts, Music and Entertainment of Shreveport-Bossier.

Municipal Auditorium is one of 16 sites to receive the designation this year of being significant in American history and culture. The local venue is known as the home of radio station KWKH's Louisiana Hayride, country music's most innovative and experimental radio show from 1948-58, the Interior Department noted.

Elvis Presley is among performers who played the auditorium during the Hayride's heyday. The city-owned Art Deco-style auditorium was built in the 1920s and was dedicated to World War I veterans. These days, it is the site of everything from fundraising parties to mixed martial arts fights - not so different from the weekly wrestling matches that drew thousands of fans from the auditorium's debut through the 1970s.

In 2007, city officials signed a contract with Friends of the Municipal to manage the property. The nonprofit also operates the Stage of Stars Museum, which highlights big-name stars who played Municipal Auditorium.

- The Louisiana Hayride + Elvis Presley's First Record & Early Gigs

Elvis Presley - Louisiana Hayride 1955

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