History of Historic City Hall
The 1911 Historic City Hall building was constructed to replace the original city hall that had been destroyed by a terrible fire in 1910. The ornate red and white Spanish Baroque style building opened as City Hall in 1911. The beautiful structure features Renaissance arched windows, massive brackets, a red tiled roof, and a campanile (Italian bell tower) with a clock and bell. The building served as Lake Charles City Hall from 1911 until 1978, then as the City Court Building until 1999.
In May 1999 the city leaders began a bold $2 million restoration project to update the building's infrastructure while preserving its historic beauty. In June 2004 the City of Lake Charles approved the use of the 1911 Historic City Hall as an Arts & Cultural Center.
Today, Historic City Hall Arts & Cultural Center serves the community as a venue for travelling exhibitions. The three floors of gallery space has displayed works by Picasso, Ansel Adams, Norman Rockwell, and many others. In 2007 Historic City Hall Arts & Cultural Center was voted by the Times Reader's Poll as the Best Public Art Gallery.
Historic City Hall recently completed two construction projects to further enhance the beauty of the building. A newly landscaped plaza has been designed in the front of the building and the development of Ten Pin Alley will serve as a sidewalk event venue.