Acadian Village

Upon entering Acadian Village, visitors should enter through the General Store to pay for admission. It is there, you will recieve a map of the 10-acre grounds showcasing each building. This is a self-guided tour and last approximately 1 hour to complete. (French versions are available)

No food or beverage items (except beverage machines) are available in Acadian Village. Visitors are encouraged to picnic at our facility.

Group rates are available for 20 or more. We encourage groups to schedule ahead of time if possible. If you are interested in scheduling a group tour please visit our contact page and submit the form or call 337-981-2364.

Small pets on leashes are welcome.

Professional photograhers are welcome to use Acadian Village as a backdrop for photoshoots. Scheduling must be done in advance. Please call 337-981-2364 to schedule. Each photoshoot requires a $15.00 fee. All photoshoots must be take place during operating hours only.

Art Gallery

The "Art Gallery" as it is known today, was once the private home of Dr. Hypolite Salles, the first resident dentist in Lafayette, Louisiana. If the name sounds familiar, he also owned the "Doctor's Museum," located next door to the Art Gallery in Acadian Village. Just as it is set up today, is the way the good doctor practiced in the late 1890s.

Today, the Art Gallery houses some of the finest examples of southwest Louisiana landscape paintings, stills, florals and much more from Acadian Village Resident Artists, who can be found throughout regular business hours. Oftentimes, the resident artists will be working on original paintings in the Art Gallery...stop by for a sneak peek at the next, great masterpiece! All items in the Art Gallery are original art works and are for sale. The Art Gallery is open during regular Village hours unless otherwise noted. For more information, call 337-981-1535.

Bernard House

Constructed in St. Martinville, Louisiana the Bernard House is the oldest structure in the Village. The section on the left was built first (circa 1800) while that on the right is an addition, (1840).

Upon entry into the addition one will see a large painting of the exile of the Acadians from Nova Scotia (Canada) in 1755. The painting in the small rear room depicts their arrival and settling along the bayous of Louisiana in 1764-1765. These paintings were painted by Louisiana artist Robert Dafford and was commissioned by one of the Acadian Village founders, Bob Lowe.

The oldest section of the home contains an exhibit on Cajun music. Here, also, is the best example of the type of insulation used within the homes. It is called bousillage entre poteaux (mud between posts).

The Billeaud House comes from the Billeaud Sugar Plantation in Broussard, Louisiana; it was built prior to the Civil War. Today it is used as a spinning and weaving cottage.

One of the looms is an original being 150 years old. The other is a replica, built locally by 72-year old Mr. Whitney Breaux for the Bicentennial.

Homespun blankets and clothes were woven from white cotton, native to Louisiana, and brown cotton introduced from Mexico to the Acadians by the Spaniards.

This is a replica of a blacksmith shop, built on site with weather-beaten, aged cypress boards. The blacksmith was a very important person in a community; he was the one who made tools, horseshoes, nails, hinges, etc., out of iron.

The anvil, forge and bellows are much like those used long ago. The tongs, pincers, hammers, etc. on the wall are part of the smitty's collection. Also scattered about are tools that have been the mainstay of farmers throughout the years here in the southwest prairies.

Acadian Village's resident Blacksmith is Charles Goulas. Charles can be found in his Shop during special events such as concerts, cook-offs and Noel Acadien au Village - The Village's spectacular Christmas Lighting Program. During these events, Charles will demonstrate century-old techniques of blacksmithing and often sell his crafts.

Castille House

This historic landmark at the Village was built for Dorsene Castille (circa 1860) in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana by a European of whom little is known except that it took him over a year to complete since he did the entire job by himself.

During the Civil War the house was pillaged by Yankee soldiers, but somehow survived the ravages of time.

The cypress mantels in the home are of interest. Each has a carved emblem on the front. The outside figure looks like a Christian fish and symbolizes a long and happy life; the center emblem looks like a rosette and is called progression. It signifies a large and prosperous family.

Doctor's Museum

The Doctor's Museum was at one time the office of the first resident dentist in Lafayette, Dr. Hypolite Salles. Built in 1890 of Cypress, the architecture reflects the Greek revival influence. The original cypress shingles are still on the structure beneath the red painted corrugated iron roof. The iron roof was added following a devastating fire at the Lacoste Hardware Store which stood on Jefferson Street between 1910 and 1920.

A collection of period furnishings, medical and dental instruments, bottled medicines and powders popular at the time are displayed throughout the three-room structure. There are also medical books and diplomas of area physicians of the late 19th and early 20th century.

Built between 1821 and 1856 near Youngsville, Louisiana, the LeBlanc house is the birthplace of Acadian Senator Dudley J. LeBlanc.

Cajun politician and entrepreneur Dudley J. "Couzin Dud" LeBlanc was born on August 16, 1894. He attended Southwestern Louisiana Institute, and during World War I served as a sergeant in the U.S. Army. In 1924 LeBlanc was elected a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives, and in 1926 became Public Service Commissioner. He served as State Senator from 1940 to 1944, 1948 to1952, and in 1964. In 1945 he established the Happy Day Company, which manufactured the popular Hadacol brand health tonic. Hadacol had 12 percent alcohol, and it guaranteed to cure all ills. LeBlanc promoted Hadacol extensively, sometimes using major entertainers as spokespersons.

An active Cajun culture preservationist, LeBlanc served as president of the Association of Louisiana Acadians, and in the late 1960s helped to establish CODOFIL (Council for the Development of French in Louisiana). He authored three books: The True Story of the Acadians (1927); The Improved Version (1932); and The Acadian Miracle (1966, a revised and expanded version of his first book). LeBlanc appealed to political supporters via radio in Cajun French, at a time when Cajun French was rarely heard on radio. He died on October 22, 1971, and was buried in Abbeville.

The LeBlanc exhibit contains memorabilia from the life and times of "Couzan Dud."

The New Hope Chapel is a replica of an 1850 chapel. The architects were Don Breaux and Robert Barras. It was built through the efforts of the Knights of Columbus and opened for the Bicentennial.

The ceiling was built of cypress and is held up by pegs. The floor was made of Louisiana long leaf pine that is about 200 years old.

There is only one original pew; it is 150 years old. The rest are copies, made by Mr. Whitney Breaux. The Stations of the Cross were hand carved with chisel, knife and hammer by a local sculptor, Mr. Lester Duhon.

The main alter was the type used before Vatican Council II. It originally served St. Anne's church in Youngsville, Louisiana and later St. Joseph's in Milton, Louisiana. It was donated to the Village by Mrs. Jules Hebert of Milton. The side altar (Last Supper scene) is a gift from an anonymous donor who left it on the porch of the general store.

This house dates to circa 1840 and was donated to the Village by a local dentist. It was located on St. John Street near downtown Lafayette - thus its name. It was built of salvaged cypress timbers from another building.

The house is currently being used as a schoolhouse. Among the desks is a three-seater which came to the Village from an old schoolhouse near Sunset, Louisiana. Old books, inkwells, lunch pails and the wooden stove round out the exhibit.

The Thibodeaux House was constructed of cypress, the "wood eternal," that is rot and insect resistant. Each pre-cut beam and post was marked with Roman numerals for ease in assembling. The house dates to circa 1820 and came to the Village from the Breaux Bridge, Louisiana area.

The small rear "cabinet" room, the daughter's room, was accessible only through the parent's room. The boys slept in the attic/loft or "garconnier," reached by way of an outside staircase.