Opelousas: History, Museums and Zydeco

Opelousas offers several specific themes for a culturally focused trip: historic architecture, churches and a cemetery, museums about local history, and Zydeco. If you’re looking for a hotel in Opelousas, this overview can help you choose a destination. Would you like to explore different architectural periods, learn about specific collections, or plan around an event date? The city’s history can be explored from these different perspectives.

Architecture and Historic Sites

The architecture in the Opelousas National Historic District spans more than 175 years, from Greek Revival to Art Deco. Le Vieux Village includes historic buildings dating from the late 18th century to the mid-20th century. The two sites are characterized by different time spans and aspects of historic architecture: the district emphasizes the long arc of architectural development, while Le Vieux Village highlights the dates of its buildings. If architecture is your focus, these details provide a timeline for exploring the city’s historic heritage.

Individual landmarks offer their own points of interest. The Jim Bowie Oak is more than 350 years old. The Michel Prudhomme House is considered likely to be the oldest building still standing at its original location in Saint Landry Parish. Visits to the house are available by appointment; keep this requirement in mind when planning.

Churches and Cemetery

Historic churches and the cemetery offer further points of interest. St. Landry Catholic Church is often called the Mother Church of Acadiana; the present church was completed in 1909. St. Landry Catholic Cemetery is the oldest cemetery in Opelousas and contains graves dating from the early 19th century. Louisiana Memorial United Methodist Church is the oldest Methodist congregation west of the Mississippi River. Holy Ghost Catholic Church was founded in 1920.

Museums and Cultural History

The Louisiana Orphan Train Museum was established in 2009 through the restoration of the former Union Pacific Freight Depot. It preserves documents, artifacts, and memorabilia about the Orphan Train Riders, who traveled from New York to Louisiana between 1873 and 1929. The Rural African American Museum documents the history of the African American population, from the realities of slavery to today’s Creole cowboy culture. Together, the two museums offer insight into different parts of Louisiana’s history.

The Fireman’s Museum displays memorabilia and artifacts from the Opelousas Hope, Hook and Ladder Fire Co. #1. Through explanatory panels, the Zydeco Music Exhibit introduces the unique and popular Zydeco music style of Southwest Louisiana. If you’re especially interested in music and its local significance, this exhibit offers a different way into cultural history than the collections on firefighting or African American history.

The Opelousas Museum and Interpretive Center presents the history and culture of the Opelousas area from prehistoric times to the present. It includes The Geraldine Smith Welch Doll Collection, a Civil War Room, a Louisiana Video Collection Library, and the Southwest Louisiana Zydeco Music Festival Archives. The Opelousas Museum also holds ongoing special exhibitions throughout the year featuring fine art, folk art, and crafts.

Walking Tours and an Event Date

Opelousas offers separate historic walking tours of Downtown Opelousas and North Opelousas. You can therefore plan around two different tours. A regular annual event is the Gumbo Cook-Off, held on the last Saturday in January in downtown Opelousas. If you’d like to plan your trip around this date, check the date for the relevant year in advance.

Discover more destinations: Eunice.

Return to the main travel overview: St. Landry Parish.