Louisiana Lands Three on ‘Most Beautiful Public Buildings’ List

(KMDL-FM) In every town in every state in every country in the world, there is a structure that defines that community. If I mention Paris, France, you think of the Eiffel Tower. If I mention St. Louis, Missouri, you probably think of the arch. But what structure in your hometown is the iconic symbol for your community? In many cases, that structure is a public building, and in two Louisiana towns, those structures have found themselves on the list of the nation's most beautiful public buildings.

If you consider all the buildings that "We the People" own, the list typically includes structures such as courthouses, libraries, city halls, museums, and schools. And for those with an interest in architecture, the most beautiful and intriguing structures aren't always found in larger towns.

In fact, the building that tops the list of "The 133 Most Beautiful Public Buildings in America for 2025 is actually an administration building in Arkansas. Okay, it's an iconic structure that serves as the administration facility for visitors who travel to Hot Springs National Park.    

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The building at number two on the list is the public library in the historic district of Wailuku, Hawaii. And it couldn't look any more different from the structure in Hot Springs if designers set out to make it that way. It just goes to show you that beauty is not just in the eye of the beholder, it's in the heart of the public conscience, where community pride is concerned.

What Are Louisiana's Most Beautiful Public Buildings?

In Louisiana, three public buildings made the list compiled by the website Love vs Design. They were chosen for that honor as part of a survey of over 3,000 people who offered an opinion on the most beautiful and underrated public buildings in our country.

To find Louisiana's first entry on the list, you have to scroll down all the way to spot number 85. That's where you'll find the structure you see below.

Yes, that is the St. Landry Parish Courthouse in Opelousas. The structure was completed in 1940 and was a New Deal Project funded by the Public Works Administration. The building has a limestone facade, original Art Deco lighting, and sculptures above the entrance.

The second structure to make the "Most Beautiful Public Buildings List" was 10 slots further down the list at spot number 95. Again, the structure making the list is another courthouse. This time, the featured building is the Parish Courthouse for Pointe Coupee Parish in New Roads, Louisiana.

The style of architecture you see featured in Point Coupee Parish's courthouse is called Romanesque Revival. And no, I didn't know that. The structure was completed in 1903. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1981.

The third structure to make the beautiful public buildings list was yet another courthouse in Louisiana. This one is even further down than the Pointe Coupee structure was listed. Coming in at 120 is the Claiborne Parish Courthouse in Homer, Louisiana.

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If you're not familiar with Claiborne Parish and Homer, Louisiana, I am guessing you don't deer hunt. That parish is located to the north and east of Shreveport on the Arkansas state line, an area known far and wide by sportsmen as a great place to bag a trophy buck.

Another Louisiana Courthouse Listed on the National Historic Register

But in this case, the folks of Claiborne Parish have just bagged another honor for their meticulously maintained courthouse. This structure is called Greek Revival and is one of the few remaining pre-Civil War functional courthouses. It's on the National Register of Historic Places, and there have been some paranormal connections related to the structure as well.

If you'd like to see the complete list of the 133 Most Beautiful Public Buildings in America as compiled by Love vs Design on its website, you can find that here.