List as great small space museum. Lots of historical facts and beautiful space. Nice to visit in…read moretandem with the Acadian museum which is next door along with the Longfellow Evangeline Oak outdoor exhibit. Recommended place to RVer's from Harvesthost.com from the www.campingonthebayou.com site in St Martinville, LA. Great opportunity zone for a walking tour to see several sites and grab a coffee from Studio Gallery and Coffee. Find more from YELP at https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-studio-gallery-and-coffee-bar-saint-martinville.

Admission here includes admission to the Acadian Museum next door. There are a lot of information…read moreboards detailing the history of African Americans in the area. There is a whole lot of information to take in. They also seem to be expanding the display areas. Words fail me when trying to explain this place. If you are in the area, come by.

I came to the museum before going in for the rodeo and I am so very glad. The drive out is just…read morebeautiful. There was so much information about the history of the jail, and kind of brush over some of the harshness. I would recommend this for anyone in the area, even if you are not here for the rodeo. Of course I recommend the rodeo. I think that it is hilarious that someone wrote a review saying that they thought that this would be about Angola the country. The name on Yelp clearly states that this is part of the Louisiana State Penitentiary, and the website listed on the about section leads you to a website specifically for a museum about the Angola Prison. The reviews on Yelp talk about this being a museum. And you think this is about the country? HAHAHA

This is a review of the museum not the actual prison…read more The drive to Angola is beautiful. There are rolling hills and beautiful fields which make you forget you are headed to one of the country's most notorious prisons. Immediately before the razor wire topped fence of the prison is a museum that until recently, I did not know it existed. There is no cost for the museum, but donations are accepted. I didn't know it at the time, but I learned later that the gentleman working the in the museum gift shop was a retired Corrections Colonel. Considering he worked at the prison for over 30 years, I wish I would have known so that I could have heard some of his stories. The tour of the museum is self guided. There are displays of the wildlife found at Angola and the Louisiana Justice Hall of Fame. While those were interesting, the really cool stuff was yet to come. There was a mock up of a prison cell that makes you realize you do not want to end up here. If that wasn't enough to convince you the wall of confiscated weapons and graphic photos of the injuries they caused should help you avoid a life of crime. Also inside was the electric chair. This was no mock up as proven by the gouge marks on the arm rests from those souls who met their demise in that chair. Whether you are opposed or support the death penalty, this chair is a reminder of what a death sentence ultimately means. Once we finished perusing the museum, we headed to the gift shop. You can buy all sorts of Angola themed items. I opted for the "Angola-A Gated Community" t-shirt and some Angola hot sauce. The shirt draws a lot of odd looks and the hot sauce was comparable to Louisiana Brand Hot Sauce. Whether you are already in the area, or want to take a special trip, I highly recommend you check out this museum.

Oh. My. Goodness. This museum is undergoing major updates that is updating the exhibits. The lady…read moreworking was very knowledgeable and earnest in her efforts to keep up to date with new information. Evidently Opelousas was one of the safe havens for people of color and the largest population of free people of color outside of New Orleans. Very impressive. I love passionate people. I recommend this for anyone in the area.

I was not expecting the size of this place but I was really impressed. I really enjoy learning the…read moremindset of people and this did not disappoint. I really felt like taking a step back in history to see what life was like for when the Acadians first landed in Louisiana. It was obvious that the volunteers enjoy what they are doing and it comes across in their passion.

I admit, I've seen an abundance of these recreated villages, all across the US. Growing up, my…read moreparents were fond of them, so they've been a part of most vacations, and many of them tend to blend into one another. Vermilionville, however, stood out as one of the best, and is a memory I'll hang onto for a while. The attendants in period garb were friendly, knowledgeable, and happy to answer our questions. The woman with her spinning wheel even gave us a demonstration. She had taught herself to spin whilst working there and explained the excessive amount of hours it took to finish even one sweater. She also made it possible for me to try the bread pudding I'd been eyeing on the restaurant menu; she warned me they were closing in just 15 minutes so we rushed over and put our order in. Now, I'm not sure if their restaurant has its own yelp page so I'll just review it here. That pudding was the most delicious, most perfect bread pudding I've ever had, and I've tried quite a lot from some of the best places in NOLA. The top was crisply caramelized, and the center was a buttery custard infused with vanilla and cinnamon--an aromatic taste sensation. The server brought me two containers to go (an extra as I'd only asked for one!) and I was so excited to try it, I devoured the first one while wandering between the houses. There were some rather beautiful little homes, furnished with accurate historic decor, and I appreciated that we were able to look at things on our own, at our own pace, free from having to follow a guide. We visited on a day it was set to storm, but we were able to see most of the buildings before the sky opened up on us. We foolishly forgot to bring umbrellas of any kind, so we ended up darting between structures, and eventually taking refuge in the old church while the worst of the rain passed. It was atmospheric and memorable. We found some charming animals in a little barn--a donkey and two sheep and we said hello. There were even mushrooms, and among them we found a single chanterelle, so keep an eye out, fellow mushroom hunters! Lastly, you must leave adequate time to check out the gift shop. They have something for everyone, and much of it made by local artisans! I would recommend Vermilionville to anyone with an appreciation for southern history.

This was my second visit to Rosedown Plantation, and unfortunately it confirmed my first…read moreimpression. Before we even entered the property, I felt like we were treated as though we were expected to break the rules rather than welcomed as visitors. The staff member repeatedly emphasized that the grounds were over 200 years old, told us that two park rangers would be on duty watching photographers, and said that if we set anything on the ground we could be fined $500. I was carrying a small handheld USB fan simply to stay cool in the Louisiana heat and was told I couldn't bring it. After reviewing the written photography policy, I couldn't find any rule prohibiting a personal handheld fan. During the conversation, I was also told there were cameras throughout the property, reminded that no makeup or hair could be done in the restrooms, and then told, "I'm not charging you a photographer fee." By that point, the interaction felt more like a series of warnings and threats than a welcoming orientation. I completely understand that historic properties need rules, and I had every intention of respecting them. My issue isn't with having rules--it's with how they were communicated. There is a respectful way to explain expectations without making visitors feel like they're under suspicion before they've done anything wrong. After two visits with similar experiences, I left feeling unwelcome both times. I hope management takes a serious look at how staff interact with visitors because customer service matters just as much as preserving the property.

One of the nicest tours you will ever take. Knowledgeable staff and guides make for a pleasant…read morevisit!

The city of Opelousas is a quaint town that is the center of Zydeco music. There are several nice…read moremuseums and restaurants here. Easily accessible from 49, near a few large cities. It was settled by Creoles, French speaking people and Creoles of color. It was the capital of the Confederacy for a few months after the Union overtook Baton Rouge. Any ways. I would suggest the Orphan Train Museum and the Opelousas Museum and Interpretive Center for sure. Be careful with speeding as it seems like the kind of place where police will pounce on those speeding. Lots of antique stores.

Definitely a very nice children's museum, with a bunch of really wonderful exhibits for kids of all…read moreages. The staff was super nice as well. Our kids really loved the grocery store and dinosaur play place. Only 4 stars as it's relatively small but still the same price as much larger children's museums in other cities.

This is a rest place for kids! We come here maybe 2-5 times a year only bc it's somewhat far from…read morewhere we live. The kids always have a good time when they're here. They keep the place up great! I have a 7 year old and a 4 year old and it keeps them busy for a good while. Their favorite is everyone's favorite, the bubble factory!

Great place for the kids to spend the day and play. Nice small place. They could just run around a…read morewhole bunch of different activities. To keep the kids busy you can play inside or outside. It's pretty affordable and all around a great time! The staff is very nice!

We love the Treehouse. It is a local treasure. The working model train is always a hit with my…read morelittle boy. He also loves the fire truck on the playground and the police car inside! There are so many cute and fun AND educational things to do there!!!