Louisiana History Museums

Historical Donaldsonville Museum   [Galleries of the Past]

Devoted to the preservation of the heritage of Donaldsonville, LA, the museum is located in the old B. Lemann & Brothers Building, the oldest department store in Louisiana.

River Road African American Museum

[Exhibits]

Dedicated to the preservation and display of the history and culture of African Americans in the rural areas along the Mississippi River from Baton Rouge to New Orleans.  The center also provides an international resource for genealogy research.  Located at 406 Charles Street, Donaldson, LA.

Exhibits include many antique and vintage aircraft.

Located on Barksdale AFB in Louisiana.

Ark-La-Tex Antique & Classic Vehicle Museum

Located in an old assembly plant for 1920s Graham Trucks and Dodge Cars, the museum displays a variety of antique and classic vehicles.  601 Spring Street, Shreveport, LA.

Ark-La-Tex Mardi Gras Museum

Displays a decade of Mardi Gras in NW Louisiana.

Karpeles Manuscript Library Museums

The world's largest private holding of original manuscripts and documents.  Holdings include the original draft of the U. S. Bill of Rights, the Confederate Constitution and many more.  Many of the documents may be viewed online.  Shreveport location is 3201 Centenary Blvd.

Louisiana State Exhibit Museum  

[Caddo Lore - Online History Book in PDF]

The museum presents exhibits of historical nature related to the NW region of Louisiana and serves 10 parishes.  Features include 22 dioramas of Louisiana history along with one of the best collections of Native American artifacts in the Southeast.  Located at 3015 Greenwood Road in Shreveport, LA.

Pioneer Heritage Center

Comprising seven plantation structures, the exhibits and structures are open to the public while serving as a laboratory for students and teachers.  The structures include the Thrasher House (log house), the Caspiana House, a detached kitchen, a log blacksmith shop, a doctor's office and a commissary.  Located at One University Place in Shreveport, LA.

Spring Street Historical Museum

Step back in time and discover what life was like in the early days of Shreveport.  Housed in Shreveport's oldest remaining building, the historic 1865 Tally Bank, the museum collections include Indian artifacts, historic documents, maps, military uniforms household furnishings and other memorabilia from NW Louisiana's past. Address is 525 Spring Street in Shreveport, LA.

Stephens African American Museum   [History]

A living museum dedicated to the preservation of African American history, artifacts and documents.  2810 Lindholm, Shreveport, LA.

Caddo-Pine Island Oil Historical Museum   [History & Photos]

Learn about the history of the Northwest Louisiana oil fields, Caddo Lake and the early people who inhabited the region.  Located in Oil City, LA on State Highway 1.

Louisiana State Oil and Gas Museum   [Video Tour]

Mooringsport Mini Museum

Explore the past history of Mooringsport.  Includes a room of Caddo Indian artifacts.  At the corner of Gremen and Croom in Mooringsport, LA.

Multicultural Center of the South

Provides displays and exhibits of the ethnic and cultural groups which make up the population of Shreveport / Bossier City.  Address is 401 Texas Street in Downtown Shreveport, LA.

Red River Crossroads Museum

Displays memorabilia and pictures of the rural communities surrounding Gilliam.  Located in the Shreveport Memorial Library at Hwy 3049, Gilliam, LA.

Vivian Depot Museum

Displaying the history and culture of Vivian, Louisiana.
Located at 100 N Front St, Vivian , LA 71082
Phone: (318) 375-3633

[Exhibits]  [History of the Museum]

Artifacts and exhibits related to the early life in Claiborne Parish, Louisiana.  Located at 519 S. Main Street, on the town square in Homer, LA.

Visit a working cotton plantation of the early 1800s with a rare steam cotton gin and learn about the history of early Natchez planters and slaves.  Then visit the newest computerized cotton gin which can produce 900 bales of cotton per day from an 1800 acre modern cotton plantation.  A then and now perspective on cotton plantations.  Located at 11054 Hwy. 84 in Frogmore, LA.

Housed in the Cook-Hill House.  Built in 1850, the historic house is available for rentals.

Mansfield State Historic Site

The site commemorates the Civil War battles at Mansfield and Pleasant Hill.  During special events, re-enactments provide living history experiences for visitors.  Located at 15149 Highway 175 in Mansfield, LA.

Old Louisiana State Capitol

Enchanted Mansion - A Doll Museum

Louisiana State University Rural Life Museum  [Exhibits]

Living history demonstrations interpret the early activities on Louisiana plantations and farms in the 1800s.  Located on the Burden Research Plantation, owned by LSU.

Magnolia Mound Plantation

The small original house was built ca 1791 but was expanded into a beautiful French style plantation house between 1805 and 1805.  The home features a great collection of furnishings, arts, antiques and other historical artifacts.  Other buildings on the property include the open hearth kitchen, overseer's house, the slave cabin, a carriage house, and a pigeonnier.  Tours are offered.  Located at 2161 Nicholson Drive in Baton Rouge, LA.

Old Arsenal Powder Magazine Museum   [Video Tour]

Old Governor's Mansion

Built in 1930, a White House copy, the first resident governor was Huey P. Long.  Address is 502 North Blvd in Baton Rouge, LA.

Old State Capitol   [Video Tour] 

Built in 1847 and resembling an old castle, the historic building has been restored and is used as the Center for Political and Governmental History.  Tours are offered.  Location is 100 North Blvd. at River Road in Baton Rouge, LA.

Zachary Historic Village

Devoted to the history of Zachary and the surrounding area, the village includes three historic homes: Miss Sis' Magic House, McHugh House and the Farm House.  A Native American Settlement has recently been added to the collection.  Visit at 4524 Virginia Street in Zachary, LA.

Louisiana Cotton Museum  [Video Tour]

Featuring a 7 acre museum complex which includes a 100 year old planter's house, a cotton gin building, a plantation church, sharecropper's cabin, commissary and exhibit hall the museum is focused on the history of cotton cultivation and it's affect on early life in Louisiana.  Located at 7162 Highway 65 North in Lake Providence, LA.

Republic of West Florida Historic Association Museum

[History & Photos of the Plantation]

Kenner Heritage Park

Take a step back in time when you stroll through this lovely replica of a river village.  Buildings include a packing shed, ice house, blacksmith shop, St. Mary's Church and a 1930s gas station.  Located at 303 Williams Blvd. in Rivertown, Kenner, LA.

A replica of a a latter 19th Century Acadian Village.  The village features both historic homes and replicated buildings depicting Acadian culture and heritage.  The oldest structure in the park is the Bernard House built ca 1800.  Others include the Thibodeaux House build of cypress wood ca 1820, the LeBlanc House built between 1821 and 1865, the St. John House ca 1840, the Billeaud House, and the Castille House.  Weddings are held at the lovely New Hope Chapel.  Location is 200 Greenleaf Drive in Lafayette, LA.

Louisiana Military Museum

[Online Tour]

Exploring 150 years of military history and honoring our heroes.  Located at 201 Memorial Drive in Ruston, LA,

Cane River Creole National Historic Park

Magnolia Plantation

Oakland Plantation

Old State Courthouse Museum   [History]

St. Augustine Catholic Church

Point Coupee Parish Museum

Houses one of the largest genealogical libraries in the state of Louisiana.  They offer museum exhibits from prehistoric times to present and admission is free.

Oak Alley Plantation 

[History]  [Slavery]  [Ghost Tales]

Completed in 1841, the historic antebellum home of Jacques and Celina Telesphore Roman, was a magnificent example of the finest plantation homes found on the Mississippi.  It has been restored and today can be toured.  Plantation cottages on the grounds serve as a bed and breakfast.

San Francisco Plantation   [History]  [Photos]

This gorgeous Creole open suite style plantation house boasts a fine collection of antiques.  Built in 1856 by Edmond Bozonier Marmillon, the home features hand painted ceilings and has been remarkably restored.  Today, tours are offered and rentals are available for weddings and special events.  Located at 2646 Highway 44 (River Road) in Garyville, Louisiana.

Found on the historical site along with the 1815 DuClozel Olivier plantation house is an Acadian cabin and an Acadian farmstead.  All of these buildings allow the visitor a glimpse of the Acadian lifestyle and heritage.  Located at 1200 N. Main Street in St. Martinville, LA.

Museum of the Acadian Memorial

Learn about the Acadians who settled in Louisiana, their heritage and legacy.  Located next to the Memorial building in the St. Martinville Cultural Heritage Center.  View over 3000 names of Acadian refugees from early Louisiana records engraved on Bronze plaques and framed in granite, then hear their stories as portrayed by costumed actors.

African American Museum

Also located in the St. Martinville Cultural Heritage Center, the museum portrays the story of the arrival of Africans in SW Louisiana during the 1700s, their enslavement and the celebration of their freedom.

St. Martin de Tours Catholic Church

Built in 1836, this beauty is considered the "mother church" of the Acadians.  It is the 4th oldest church in Louisiana and includes the statue of Evangeline who keeps watch over the cemetery.  Address is 201 Eveangeline Blvd in St. Martinville, LA.

West Baton Rouge Points of Interest

West Baton Rouge Museum

Housed inside the former courthouse, the museum features historical artifacts and exhibits related to the history of West Baton Rouge Parish.  Special collections include the pre-Civil War Allendale Plantation cabin, an education room and over 1300 historical photographs.  Located at 845 N. Jefferson Avenue in Port Allen, LA.

Location of the 1806 Oakley Plantation House, where John James Audubon stayed while painting 32 of his bird pictures.  The home has the typical plantation style of detached kitchen and two slave cabins occupy the grounds.  11788 Hwy. 965 in St. Francisville, LA.

Locust Grove State Historic Site

Once the site of Locust Grove Plantation, all that remains here is the small family cemetery (27 grave plots), where family members of Jefferson Davis are interred.  Bains-Ristroph Rd. in St. Francisville, LA.

Louisiana State Penitentiary Museum (Angola)

Once known as "the bloodiest prison in America", the Louisiana State Penitentiary is still operating today.  Inmates work 18,000 acres of rich farm land.  The museum displays prison artifacts, including the original electric chair and offers records of the first prison inmates.

Rosedown Plantation

Established in the 1830s by Daniel and Martha Turnbull, it was passed down through their descendants until the 1950s and represents the most intact, documented example of an antebellum plantation in the South.  On the 1860 census, there were 145 slaves living on the plantation grounds.  Noted for its large and beautiful gardens, it is located at 12501 LA Hwy. 10 in St. Francisville.

Museum Index for Other States

Louisiana Census Records