Opelousas: History, Culture and Zydeco

In Opelousas, the view extends from more than 175 years of architecture to the musical history of Southwest Louisiana. Those planning a trip focused on culture, history and distinctive local topics will find a variety of ways to shape their days here. When looking for a holiday apartment or holiday home, you can therefore first consider whether museums, historic buildings, city tours or a culinary event should be the focus of your stay.

Historic Buildings and Local History

The Opelousas National Historic District showcases more than 175 years of architecture, from Greek Revival to Art Deco. The Hidden Capitol of Louisiana offers a different perspective on the past; during the Civil War, it served as the governor's residence. Le Vieux Village comprises historic buildings dating from the late 18th to the mid-20th century, complementing the architectural focus with various historical periods.

Individual buildings and historic sites also tell their own stories. The Jim Bowie Oak is more than 350 years old. The Michel Prudhomme House is considered the oldest building still located on its original site in Saint Landry Parish; visits are available by appointment. St. Landry Catholic Church is often referred to as the “Mother Church of Acadiana”, while 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. In addition, Louisiana Memorial United Methodist Church is known as the oldest Methodist congregation west of the Mississippi River. Holy Ghost Catholic Church was founded in 1920.

Museums for Different Interests

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

Other museums have their own areas of focus: The Louisiana Orphan Train Museum was established in 2009 through the restoration of a 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. At the Fireman's Museum, you can see memorabilia and artifacts from Opelousas Hope, Hook and Ladder Fire Co. #1. The Zydeco Music Exhibit presents the unique and popular musical style of Zydeco from Southwest Louisiana with the help of explanatory panels.

City Tours and a Culinary Event

For orientation, separate historic walking tours are available through Downtown Opelousas and North Opelousas. This allows you to plan your stay around different historical focuses without combining both areas into a single route. The Gumbo Cook-Off is a regular annual event: it takes place every year on the last Saturday in January in downtown Opelousas. If you would like to include this event, you should plan your trip accordingly for January.

The Right Accommodation for Your Travel Plans

The variety of topics makes it worthwhile to choose accommodation based on your preferred travel rhythm. A holiday apartment may suit a stay in which you want to include several museums and historic sites in your daily itinerary. A holiday home is another option if you want to structure your days around city tours, exhibitions or the Gumbo Cook-Off according to your own preferences. What matters is less a general list of attractions than which focuses you actually want to experience and which dates are important for your trip.

For additional destinations in the area, you can also include Eunice in your search.

For the overarching travel overview: St. Landry Parish.