"The building has changed with the times — but it has always been a place where people come together, discover something, and create memories."
200 South Third Street · Downtown Leesville Historic District · National Register of Historic Places
The Story of the Building
The Parish Seat Takes Root
Leesville was established as the seat of Vernon Parish in 1871. Nestled in the piney woods of northwest Louisiana, the young town became the administrative and commercial center for the surrounding region — a role it has held ever since.
Kansas City Southern Changes Everything
When the Kansas City Southern Railroad reached Leesville in 1897, it transformed the town overnight. Timber — the lifeblood of Vernon Parish — could now reach markets across the country. New businesses followed the tracks. Downtown Leesville began to grow in earnest, and the demand for commercial buildings, hotels, and services surged.
A City Is Born
On February 15, 1900, Leesville was formally incorporated as a city. The early 1900s marked a period of rapid development along Third Street and the surrounding downtown blocks. Brick commercial buildings rose to meet the needs of a growing community — and the stage was set for the National Hotel.
A Landmark Is Built
The building at 200 South Third Street — also addressed as 113 Courthouse Street — dates to approximately 1907. The City of Leesville's Downtown Historic District inventory identifies it as Contributing Property #4: the National Hotel. A historical marker at the site also identifies it as the Lee and Syril Eissman Building. Standing at the prominent corner of Third Street and East Courthouse Street, the three-story brick structure was one of the most substantial commercial buildings in downtown Leesville.
Where Leesville Welcomed the World
Historical sources describe the original National Hotel as a full-service establishment: a lobby and offices on the ground floor, a restaurant toward the rear, guest rooms on the upper floors, and a two-story gallery running along the front facade. For travelers arriving by rail and locals conducting business in the parish seat, the National Hotel was a natural gathering place at the heart of downtown.
The Character of the Building
The National Hotel is a three-story corner commercial building constructed of brick, with a prominent cutaway corner that commands the intersection of Third and Courthouse. Documented architectural features include decorative upper cornice and parapet work, historic storefront elements at street level, upper-floor windows with period detailing, and the historic gallery and balcony configuration along the front. These features remain part of the building's character today.
The National Hotel and Its Neighbors
The National Hotel did not stand alone. It was part of a larger collection of historic commercial buildings that formed the heart of downtown Leesville along Third Street. Together, these buildings created the commercial and civic fabric of the city — a district that today is recognized as the Downtown Leesville Historic District.
A Building That Endured
Like many historic downtown buildings, the National Hotel's story between its hotel era and the present is not fully documented in the public record. What is clear is that the building continued to stand — and to serve — as downtown Leesville evolved through the decades of the twentieth century. The gaps in the historical record are honest ones. The building endured.
A Contributing Property
The National Hotel is recognized as a contributing property within the Downtown Leesville Historic District. The district has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places — the federal government's official list of properties worthy of preservation. As a contributing property, the National Hotel is part of the documented historic character that earned the district its listing. This is more than an old building. It is part of the recorded history of downtown Leesville.
Find Different Treasures.
Today, the historic National Hotel building is home to Vintage Mall — a multi-vendor destination with 15+ vendors spread across three floors. Each vendor brings something different: antiques, vintage pieces, collectibles, home décor, handmade crafts, and unexpected finds. Come inside. Look around. Take your time. You never know what you'll discover.
The National Hotel · c. 1907 · Historical photograph — date unknown
Vintage Mall · 200 South Third Street · Leesville, Louisiana
Historic Preservation
This is more than an old building.
The National Hotel is recognized as a contributing property within the Downtown Leesville Historic District — a district placed on the National Register of Historic Places, the federal government's official list of properties worthy of preservation.
As a contributing property, the National Hotel is part of the documented historic character that earned the district its listing. It is part of the recorded history of downtown Leesville — and of Louisiana.
The Building Has Always Been a Place Where People Come Together.
Its purpose has changed. Its occupants have changed. Leesville has changed. But for over a century, people have walked through these doors looking for something. Today, that tradition continues — and the something is a treasure.
Come explore the National Hotel's next chapter — and find a treasure of your own.
A Building Full of History. A Mall Full of Treasures.