Kate Chopin House (Cloutierville, Louisiana) facts for kids
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Kate Chopin House
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Formerly listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places
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Historic American Buildings Survey photo of the house
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 Location in Louisiana
Location in the United States
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| Location | Main St. (LA 1), Cloutierville, Louisiana |
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| NRHP reference No. | 93001601 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | April 19, 1993 |
| Designated NHL | April 19, 1993 |
| Removed from NRHP | December 28, 2015 |
| Delisted NHL | December 28, 2015 |
The Kate Chopin House, also known as the Bayou Folk Museum, was a historic home in Cloutierville, Louisiana. It was once the home of Kate Chopin, a famous American writer known for her book The Awakening. She lived here after she got married.
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A Historic Home in Louisiana
The Kate Chopin House was located on Main Street in Cloutierville, a town in Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana. A man named Alexis Cloutier, who founded the town, built the house. It was constructed between 1806 and 1813. The builders used local materials like handmade bricks, cypress wood, and a special mix called bousillage (a type of plaster made from mud and moss).
Kate Chopin's Life in Cloutierville
Kate Chopin moved into this house in 1879 with her husband, Oscar, and their five children. Their sixth child, a daughter named Lélia, was born there soon after they arrived. Oscar Chopin managed a general store and helped run the family's plantation business.
Kate Chopin was known for her independent spirit. She enjoyed activities like playing cards and going for walks by herself. Some neighbors, who were mostly of French-Creole descent, found her modern ways a bit unusual for the time.
Sadly, Kate Chopin lived in the house for only about four years. Her husband, Oscar, passed away. After his death, Kate took over the family business for a short time. However, she decided to move to St. Louis, Missouri, by mid-1884 to be closer to her mother. Her sons stayed in Cloutierville with their father's family.
Inspiration for Stories
The time Kate Chopin spent in Cloutierville greatly influenced her writing. She used her experiences and observations of the local life as inspiration for many of her stories. Some of her famous works, like Bayou Folk, A Night in Acadie, and The Awakening, were inspired by her life in this area.
The House as a Museum
In 1979, the Kate Chopin House opened its doors as a museum. It was called the Bayou Folk Museum, named after one of Chopin's books. The museum aimed to share the history of Kate Chopin and the local bayou culture.
The house was recognized as a National Historic Landmark in 1993. This important title meant it was a place of national historical significance, especially because of its connection to Kate Chopin's life and her writings about the area. Many parts of the house, like the wooden panels on the walls and some windowpanes, were original. The museum also displayed a collection of items that belonged to Kate Chopin.
A Tragic Fire
On October 1, 2008, a fire tragically destroyed the historic house. The exact cause of the fire was never determined. This loss led to new efforts to protect other historic buildings in Louisiana from similar disasters. Because the house no longer existed, its National Historic Landmark status was removed in December 2015.
See also
- Kate Chopin House (St. Louis, Missouri), another home where Kate Chopin lived
- List of National Historic Landmarks in Louisiana
