Located on Le Vieux Village property, this museum outlines the children who were brought down from…read moreNew York as there were so many who were born to unwed mothers, parents who could not afford to keep their children for one reason or another and they were getting crowded at the asylums. The sisters at the Catholic Church set up homes for the children, not as an adoption officially, but with homes that would treat them as their own and then checked in annually to ensure they were being treated properly, which for the late 1800s and early 1900s is an amazing thing. No pictures are allowed to be taken inside due to the privacy of the families and the stigma of taking in orphans at that time. The lady working was full of information and gave a lot of information about the children involved and what happened as they grew up. This is only one city of many that children were brought to. To see the clothing and hear the stories was just amazing. I highly recommend this to anyone in the area.

This tiny museum is wonderful! It is a small 1 room building located on the "Welcome Center"…read moregrounds in town. Total time inside takes about 30 minutes and they charge a small fee. Inside they feature artifacts and photos of the children who rode the "Orphan Train".These children left the New York City Foundling Hospital to rural Louisiana between the years 1873 and 1929. At the train station people who wanted kids would show up and take one or two home. I found their stories fascinating. NY City Irish and Italian street kids arriving in Southwest Louisiana to Cajun families that often only spoke French. Some stories turned out well, with wonderful families and like life itself some stories not so much. The docents who work there are very sweet, informative and passionate about the museum. They do not have a gift shop but they do have a few items for sale like coffee cups and paper back books.They also have genealogical resources for researchers on the subject or family members looking to complete family trees. An interesting part of Louisiana history, when I talked to locals, almost everyone knew of or had a family member that was a train rider. I would definitely recommend this museum to locals and tourists to the area.

This is a fantastic place to visit and learn about the history of the area, where the locals came…read morefrom and how they adapted to surviving and thriving in the environment. There's a walking trail, several artifacts on display and a 35 minute movie that explains the history both good and bad. If you're in the area it's a great way to spend 1-2 hours.

This has been on my list of places I want to visit for quite some time now. I am so glad I made it…read more There is no admission fee. The Acadian Cultural Center is in Lafayette and is run by the National Parks System and has no admission fee to the center and most programs. There is a film, permanent and special exhibits that share the history, customs, language, and contemporary culture of the Acadians who became Louisiana's Cajuns. The video titled "The Cajun Way: Echoes of Acadia" is about 45 minutes in length and is very informative. The whole place is a delight. I recommend it for anyone in the area.

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.

Great place, especially if you're into Cajun history and heritage. If you're ever in the Lafayette…read morearea, take some time, it's worth it.

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.

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!!!

I am at Festival 2026.The greatest annual international music festival in Louisiana... Most…read morefordable...its free, family friendly,diverse, music based festival. Bring the RV or book a BNB accomodation. A Camping in the Bayou fav. Jamming with Corey Ledet and his zydeco band this year on the last day of Festival at the Francospere Codofil stage before I head to the bayou. See you in April 2027 in downtown Layayette, LA.

Interesting event which encompasses downtown Lafayette with multiple stages spread all around the…read morearea. They focus both on local music and international performances. They have a lot of food booths around along with all the restaurants, bars and other businesses downtown to enjoy. I did find that there was a lot of repetition with the food booths so there seemed to be some selected vendors that got to have multiple locations. Overall this was a good time where you could easily transition between the festival stages and local businesses.