Today, Natchitoches is an exquisite historic gem with an abundance of cultural opportunities, a vibrant economy, and stunning historic architecture. Yet, there was a time not too long ago when the future of Natchitoches seemed uncertain. In the 1970s, Natchitoches’ century-old buildings were deteriorating, there was a vacancy rate of 60 percent, and many commercial enterprises had moved out and relocated. Two things turned the future around: Main Street and Hollywood. Thanks to the Main Street program that started in 1983 and the filming of Steel Magnolias in 1988 that drew world-wide attention to the community, Natchitoches is now a magnet for tourism and investment.