The Reading Warehouse

Lake Charles is a city in southwest Louisiana. Downtown, the Mardi Gras Museum explores the history of the iconic festival through colorful costumes. The 1911 Historic City Hall Arts & Cultural Center features traveling exhibitions and local art. Nearby, the giant, centuries-old Sallier Oak tree stands on the grounds of the Imperial Calcasieu Museum, a visual arts center. The city also has several large casinos.

Lake Charles experienced dramatic changes following World War II. During the 1950s and 1960s, the city's young petrochemical industry and the nation's rising consumer economy led to a surge of construction south and east of the city. As people moved to the suburbs, the urban core of Lake Charles suffered destruction and neglect. The turn of the 21st century brought expanded industries to Lake Charles, including gaming, tourism, and aviation maintenance.