African American Museum [LA]

Description

The African American Museum presents information regarding the arrival of Africans and the development of the free African American community within Louisiana. The museum also interprets their struggles, adaptations, and contributions, with particular emphasis on the Attakapas District of Southwest Louisiana during the 18th and 19th centuries. It outlines the rise and fall of slavery, highlighting the economic struggles faced by the free African American population during Reconstruction.

The museum offers lectures and both traditional and electronic exhibits.

Save Our Cemeteries [LA]

Description

Save Our Cemeteries presents information on and aims to protect New Orleans' 31 historic cemeteries. The organization is actively involved in cemetery preservation and tomb restoration. Tours are offered in two cemeteries: Lafayette and St. Louis. Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 is located in the historic Garden District. Once part of the Livaudais Plantation, Lafayette No. 1 was designated a city burial site in 1833, and has since been in continuous use. Distinguished by its intersecting avenues, designed to accommodate funeral processions, it was the City's first planned cemetery. St. Louis No. 1 was founded in 1789; and is the burial ground of Etienne Boré, pioneer in sugar development; Daniel Clark, financial supporter of the American Revolution; and Paul Morphy, world famous chess champion. Notable structures include the oven wall vaults and the tombs of the French, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish societies.

The organization offers lectures and cemetery tours, including tours for school groups. Save Our Cemeteries also hosts cemetery cleaning events for which it encourages school participation.

San Francisco Plantation [LA]

Description

The San Francisco Plantation is located along the banks of the Mississippi River and, from the plantation website, "is a galleried house of the Creole open suite style and is nestled under centuries old Live Oaks and contains one of the finest antique collections in the country." The home is open from November until March, and offers individual and group tours and also plays host to many weddings throughout the year.

The home offers individual and group tours. The website offers visitor information and a brief history of the home. In order to contact the plantation by email, use the "contact us" link located at the top of the webpage.

Longfellow-Evangeline State Historic Site [LA]

Description

The Longfellow-Evangeline State Historic Site, located along the Bayou Teche in southern Louisiana, preserves the 1815 plantation home Maison Olivier and presents a reproduction of an early 1800s Acadian farmstead, including a family home, outdoor kitchen, slave quarters, and barn.

The historic site offers tours, exhibits, and occasional special events. The website offers a history of the historic site, as well as visitor information, a short virtual tour, and a listing of nearby attractions.

Winter Quarters State Historic Site [LA]

Description

Winter Quarters Plantation is one of the few true Southern-style plantations to survive the Civil War. The home was built in 1805, and eventually grew to over 2,000 acres, manned by 300 slaves. The home was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978, and today serves as a historic house museum. The home is furnished with period furnishings, and contains copies of diaries and other personal records from the tenants.

The home offers tours, interpretive programs and events, and special tours for field trips. The website offers a history of the site, visitor information, links to nearby attractions, and a virtual tour.

Shadows-on-the-Teche [LA]

Description

Shadows-on-the-Teche is an 18th-century plantation located in Southern Louisiana. Today, the location is an antebellum historic house museum allowing visitors a glimpse into life on a major southern plantation.

The museum offers visitor tours and student group tours and other educational programs. The website offers a detailed history of the location, visitor information, an education section which offers information about educational tours and events, and an events calendar.

Vermilionville [LA]

Description

The Bayou Vermilion District preserves the Bayou Vermilion watershed, once considered one of the nation's most polluted waterways. Today, the District runs Vermilionville, a living history village recreating life in the Acadiana area between 1765 and 1890. The village encompasses 18 buildings, where interpreters demonstrate traditional music and crafts.

The District offers exhibits, demonstrations, tours for school groups (which may include bag or hot lunches), workshops, cooking classes, boat tours, and other recreational and educational events. The website offers visitor information, information about the Bayou Vermilion District, an events calendar, and information on current projects.

Preservation Resource Center of New Orleans [LA]

Description

The Center works to revitalize the historic neighborhoods of New Orleans, and now aids in the reconstruction of New Orleans in a historically conscious way.

The center offers an educational program. The website offers information on the center's current projects, a resource center containing resources for homeowners and prospective preservationists, and information on and photographs of the neighborhoods that have been revitalized by the center.

Fort Jesup State Historic Site [LA]

Description

Fort Jesup, located in western Louisiana, was constructed in the early 19th century in order to provide protection on the western edge of the United States. Throughout its military life, the fort presided over the furthest western reaches of the United States of America, which terminated at the Sabine river, which forms the modern-day border between Texas and Louisiana. In addition to providing protection, the garrison provided many other crucial functions, such as road construction, surveying, and treaty negotiation. The fort was designated a national historic landmark in 1961.

The site offers basic historical information, a list of nearby attractions along with links to the attractions, and visitor information.

Plaquemine Lock State Historic Site [LA]

Description

The Plaquemine Lock was completed in 1909 and was designed by Colonel George Goethals, who would later become famous for designing the Panama Canal. When it was completed, the lock was the highest freshwater lock in the world. By 1961, the demand had outgrown the old lock and a new set of locks was opened at Port Allen. The Plaquemine Lock was placed on the national register of historic places in 1972. Now, the area includes the old lock and the Gary James Herbert Memorial Lockhouse, which serves as a museum for the lock.

The site offers general historical and visitors information about the lock. In addition the site offers a list of nearby attractions in Louisiana. Finally, as the site is part of the Louisiana State Park website, the site offers links and information about the entire Louisiana State Park system.