On Saturday, August 5, 2023, Mayor Nic Hunter was joined by other elected officials and community members to commemorate the completed restoration of Historic City Hall, 1001 Ryan St.

 

The historic building, built in 1911 following the Great Fire of 1910, offers three floors of gallery space, charging no admission to the public to enter. Hurricanes Laura and Delta caused significant damage to the structure's exterior and interior.

 

"This completed restoration is one worth celebrating and offers another tangible example of a positive step in our long-term recovery. Repairing a historic building such as Historic City Hall takes an extra level of care," said Mayor Nic Hunter. "It is critical that we preserve the historical elements that make it special, like the iconic bell tower, while restoring it in a manner that adds to its resiliency to allow future generations the ability to enjoy world-class cultural exhibitions.”

 

Storm repairs required a complete replacement of the roof, restoration and stabilization of the bell tower and sealing of the exterior bricks and windows. The interior of the building was exposed to the effects of the storms and repairs to the ceilings, walls and floors were completed.

 

Historic City Hall is home to the Black Heritage Gallery and Gallery by the Lake. The grounds are home to a number of festivals and events throughout the year, including Downtown at Sundown, the monthly Meet Me at the Market series held on the first Saturday of each month and the weekly Charlestown Farmer’s Markey held every Saturday morning.

 

For more information about Historic City Hall or other cultural programming for the City of Lake Charles, call (337) 491-9159.