Book excerpt: Louisiana, the Bayou State, is famous for many things, including savory cuisine, great music, and a resident population whose mantra is laissez les bons temps roulerlet the good times roll! The place is also noted for its historic architecture, which ranges from simple forms such as the shotgun house or the Creole cottage to the celebrated plantation homes along the River Road. Bayou Built: The Legacy of Louisianas Historic Architecture examines the so-called built environment from the perspectives of cultural geography and historic preservation. It explores the various folk types and architectural styles that became part of the Louisiana landscape from the first French settlement in 1699 through the railroad and lumber boom of the 1890s.