Germantown Colony and Museum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Germantown
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Countess Leon's House at Germantown Colony
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 Location in Louisiana
Location in the United States
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| Location | Off U.S. 79, Webster Parish, Louisiana, seven miles northeast of Minden, Louisiana |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1835 |
| NRHP reference No. | 79001100 |
| Added to NRHP | March 12, 1979 |
The Germantown Colony and Museum is a special place in Webster Parish, Louisiana. It is a museum and a project that helps save history. You can find it about 7 miles (11 km) north of Minden, Louisiana in the northwestern part of Louisiana, USA. This important site was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.
Germantown was the very first religious community settlement in Louisiana. It was started in 1836 by a group of German people. These settlers followed the ideas of a religious leader named Maximilian Ludwig, also known as the "Count of Leon." The community lasted until 1871.
The founding of Germantown was led by Elisa Leon, the "Countess of Leon." She was Maximilian Ludwig's widow. In this colony, everyone shared everything they owned. Following their religious rules was very important. Even though the colony was small, with only about 35 people, they worked together and did well.
Life in the Germantown Colony
The people of Germantown lived a simple life. They believed in peace and did not like war. This belief, along with having few supplies, made things hard during the American Civil War. These challenges eventually led to the community ending.
Germantown once had many buildings. There were houses, barns, stores, and workshops. It also had a shared kitchen and dining hall. There was even a "bachelor's hall" for single men.
Surviving Buildings and Their History
Most of the old buildings from Germantown are now gone. However, two important historic buildings still stand. These are Countess Leon's home and the kitchen-dining hall. Both were built from strong logs, carefully fitted together at the corners.
The kitchen-dining hall has a stone cellar with dry walls. Next to it is a small wooden shack. Many windows in these buildings have been replaced over time. Also, the porches you see today are not the original ones. These old buildings, along with other rustic structures, still show how the Germantown settlers lived. They give us a peek into their simple and hardworking lives.
The site also has a barn and other buildings. There is a log cabin that includes a bathroom. A well is also part of the museum grounds.
Today, the Germantown Colony and Museum is still open. It is located several miles off U.S. 79. It is about nine miles north of Interstate 20. The museum helps visitors learn about this unique part of Louisiana's history.
Gallery
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The sign for the Germantown Colony Museum in Webster Parish, Louisiana
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An old wagon inside the blacksmith shop at Germantown Museum
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A machine used to press sugar cane at Germantown
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An open field at Germantown, showing the peaceful landscape
External links
- Germantown Colony Museum - Learn more from the Louisiana Department of State
- Friends of the Germantown Colony Museum - Visit their Facebook page
