Tunica Trace | ||||
Route information | ||||
Maintained by Louisiana DOTD | ||||
Length | 19.620 mi[1] (31.575 km) | |||
Existed | 1955 renumbering–present | |||
Tourist routes |
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Major junctions | ||||
West end | Begin state maintenance at Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola | |||
East end | US 61 north of St. Francisville | |||
Location | ||||
Country | United States | |||
State | Louisiana | |||
Parishes | West Feliciana | |||
Highway system | ||||
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Louisiana Highway 66 (LA 66) is a state highway located in southeastern Louisiana. It runs 19.62 miles (31.58 km) in a general east–west direction from the main entrance of the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola to a junction with U.S. Highway 61 (US 61) north of St. Francisville.
LA 66 winds through the scenic Tunica Hills of West Feliciana Parish and connects the prison facility with US 61, the main highway through the area. It is also steeped in history as the route is derived from an ancient Native American portage known as the Tunica Trace. The surrounding area contains burial mounds and other artifacts recalling this heritage. More recent historical sites include the antebellum Trudeau plantation located on the former site of a Tunica Indian village.
Several small rural communities are also located along LA 66, including Tunica, Retreat, and Weyanoke. LA 66 was designated in the 1955 Louisiana Highway renumbering, replacing former State Route 124. The route is also designated as the Tunica Trace Byway in the state's system of tourist routes known as the Louisiana Scenic Byways.