Alexandria Louisiana Christmas lights at downtown City Hall and Christmas decorations at Wellan's Department Store

Christmas Lights in Alexandria

For those of us that grew up in central Louisiana in the Alexandria and Pineville area, we clearly remember the images of the Christmas season. The Alexandria City Hall was always a highlight, with its Christmas lights and tinsel, red Santa Claus North Pole house, the little white church, and the colorful Dancing Waters. Down Third Street, the animated Christmas window displays at Wellan's Department Store were always a major attraction.

Christmas lights were strung all around Alexandria, down Bolton Avenue and Lee Street. Even the water tower between Texas Avenue and MacArthur Drive was covered with lights!

If you have pictures or stories about your Christmas memories, and would like to share them with others, please email them to us at photos@alexandria-louisiana.com for posting on this page.

Included on this page are a few images of Alexandria Christmas past, provided courtesy of Dale Genius at the Louisiana History Museum.

Enjoy the Alexandria Christmas lights!

Alexandria, Louisiana City Hall, Christmas, early 1950s, with the Hotel Bentley to the right
(courtesy of Jane Norwood and the Louisiana History Museum)
Alexandria City Hall, Christmas, early 1950s

Alexandria, Louisiana City Hall, Christmas, 1950
The red Santa Clause North Pole house is shown to the left, the white church to the right
The Hotel Bentley appears in the left of the photo, the old Rapides Bank building in the right
Alexandria City Hall, Christmas, 1950

The little white church at the Alexandria City Hall, Christmas, 1949
looking east to Second Street, the Rapides Bank and its clock, and the Murray Street Bridge
The little white church, Christmas, 1949

Alexandria City Hall at night, Christmas season, 1949
W.T. Grant's can be seen on the left of the photo, while the Guaranty Bank rises in the background
above Schnack's Jewelry and Caplan's Mens Store on Third Street

Alexandria Louisiana City Hall with "Merry Christmas" banner, December 1949
Hotel Bentley in background
City Hall, December 1949

View inside the little church at City Hall, Alexandria, LA, December, 1962

Wellan's Department Store, 3rd Street, Alexandria, Louisiana ... decorated for Christmas
Wellan's Department Store, Alexandria Louisiana, at Christmas

Animated Christmas windows at Wellan's Department Store, Alexandria, LA
Wellan's Department Store, Christmas Window, 3rd Street, Alexandria, Louisiana

"Merry Christmas" card ... submitted by Brenda Mills