Shreveport in Caddo Parish, Louisiana — The American South (West South Central)

The Harkey Building

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 29, 2025

1. The Harkey Building Marker

Inscription.
This property has been placed on the
National Register of Historic Places
by the United States Department of the Interior

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Architecture. In addition, it is included in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1901.

Location. 32° 30.621′ N, 93° 45.079′ W. Marker is in Shreveport, Louisiana, in Caddo Parish. It is on Milam Street just west of Louisiana Avenue, on the right when traveling west. The marker is mounted directly on the south/front facade of the subject building. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 712 Milam Street, Shreveport LA 71101, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in North Louisiana.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

and in the Piney Woods.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

the Louisiana Purchase,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Shepherd/Blanchard Building (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Justin Gras (about 300 feet away); Strand Theatre (about 400 feet away); First United Methodist Church (about 400 feet away); Selber Bros (about 500 feet away); Soul Men (about 500 feet away); Texas Avenue Row (about 800 feet away); Old B'nai Zion Temple (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Shreveport.

Regarding The Harkey Building. Contributing property, Shreveport Commercial Historic District,

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

National Register of Historic Places № 82002760.

From the National Register Nomination prepared by Russell Wright, 6/1980:
The Shreveport Historic District comprises the downtown commercial area of Shreveport, which is largely characterized by early twentieth century buildings. Except for the grid, nothing remains of antebellum Shreveport. The present tightly packed commercial district developed in two stages after the Civil War. Following the war a railroad was built between Commerce Street and the Red River which precipitated the construction of two-story brick commercial buildings. At one time most of downtown Shreveport was characterized by commercial buildings of this type.
After the turn-of-the-century boom in the oil and lumber industries, much of the original Victorian townscape was rebuilt on a somewhat more pretentious scale. Most of Louisiana's so-called “old downtown areas” date from this period. Aside from New Orleans, the one in Shreveport is undoubtedly the finest in the state. The size of the historic commercial area (15 blocks) is exceeded only by New Orleans. The Shreveport downtown has colossal order pilasters and columns, ornamental cornices, and cast terra cotta decoration. The district also has the state's only Gothic style skyscraper and the state's only collection of Chicago style skyscrapers.
Contributing properties include
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 29, 2025

2. The Harkey Building Marker
The marker is mounted on the right side of the south/front entrance.
the Harkey Building, 712-718 Milam, a 2-story brick, limestone and cast-iron structure completed in 1901.

The Harkey Building (<i>front detail</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 29, 2025

3. The Harkey Building (front detail)

The Harkey Building (<i>south/front elevation</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 29, 2025

4. The Harkey Building (south/front elevation)

The Harkey Building (<i>southwest elevation</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 29, 2025

5. The Harkey Building (southwest elevation)

Credits. This page was last revised on May 15, 2026. It was originally submitted on May 12, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 15 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on May 15, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.