Iberville: History, Culture and Waterways

Historic buildings, museums and waterways offer visitors a variety of experiences in Iberville.

History in Buildings and Museums

The Plaquemine Lock State Historic Site was completed in 1909 and recalls an early example of hydraulic engineering. The lockhouse contains a museum, and the site also includes a visitor center. In Plaquemine’s historic downtown, visitors can explore architecturally significant buildings on a walking tour.

The Iberville Museum also focuses on the history and culture of Iberville Parish: it collects, preserves and exhibits them. The building also tells a story about Plaquemine’s history, having served as city hall from 1906 to 1985. The Mound House offers another historical connection: Austin Woolfolk had it built on an Indigenous burial mound in 1840.

The Madonna Chapel was built in 1902 by Italian farmer Anthony Gullo. An annual occasion shapes its religious tradition: a Mass is celebrated there on August 15, the Catholic Feast of the Assumption of Mary. The Bayou Pigeon Heritage Folklife Museum focuses on the heritage and folk culture of the early Cajun communities around Bayou Pigeon, Pierre Part, Belle River and Lake Verrett. Exhibitions, stories and preservation work convey the lives of the Bayou Cajuns.

The National Hansen’s Disease Museum in Carville was founded in 1996 by patients and staff. It documents the stories of patients and staff, as well as the history of Hansen’s disease at the Carville leprosarium. A free driving tour is available seven days a week during daylight hours; check access conditions before your trip.

Walks, Nature and Water

The Plaquemine Riverfront Recreational Trail is 1.3 miles long and begins at the Plaquemine Lock Historic Site. It is reserved for pedestrians and cyclists; off-road vehicles and vehicles of any kind are not allowed. The Grosse Tete Memorial Park & Trail offers a different scale: its accessible loop is about a quarter-mile long. The park also has a launch point for canoes and kayaks; motorized watercraft are not allowed there.

At Bayou Plaquemine Waterfront Park, an extensive system of boardwalks leads to opportunities for fishing and picnicking. Floating docks provide places to moor boats. Bayou Grosse Tete is described as a quiet river with live oaks and native vegetation along its banks; it is suitable for birdwatching and canoeing and kayaking. Bayou Plaquemine, in turn, is a tributary of the Mississippi River and provides access to the Atchafalaya Basin.

For a paddling trip, there is also the Plaquemine Self-Guided Paddling Trail. It is about 10 to 12 miles long one way, with four water access points along the route. This information provides a clear guide for planning your route, while the parks offer other ways to spend time on the water.

Visitor Information and Local Events

The North Iberville Visitors Center provides travel information at the local, regional and state levels. Features include a pond with a live alligator and a walking path with wood carvings and a depiction of tree-ring history.

The Swamp Life Expo takes place on the first Saturday in October on the grounds of the Visitors Center in Grosse Tete. It showcases local art, food and crafts through hands-on demonstrations and cultural presentations. Tastings include crawfish étouffée, gumbo, pecan pralines and bread pudding. If you want to plan your trip around the expo, check the date in advance.

Discover more destinations: White Castle, Bossier Parish, Lincoln, Vermilion, Ascension Parish, West Feliciana, Lafourche Parish, Red River Parish.

For the main travel overview: Louisiana.