River Road African American Museum facts for kids
The River Road African American Museum is a special place in Donaldsonville, Louisiana, USA. It teaches about the history and culture of Africans and African Americans. This includes both people who were enslaved and those who were free. The museum opened in 1994. It was one of the first museums in Louisiana to share these important stories. It shows how African Americans helped build the River Road area. This was true both before and after the American Civil War. Because it's so important, the museum was chosen in 2008. It became one of the first 26 sites on the Louisiana African American Heritage Trail.
Contents
Discovering History: The Museum's Story
Why the Museum Was Started
Kathe Hambrick started the African American Museum. She wanted to celebrate the culture and contributions of African Americans in Louisiana. She also wanted to share a more accurate history.
Hambrick began working on the museum in 1991. She returned to Ascension Parish after many years away. She noticed that many people visited local plantations. But they learned very little about the history of African Americans. This was true for both enslaved and free people.
Even in the 1990s, many plantations did not share these stories. African Americans had lived in the region for 300 years. They had greatly helped the economy and culture. Many also continued to work on plantations into the 20th century. Hambrick wanted to make sure their stories were told.
Finding a New Home
Hambrick first opened the museum in 1994 at Tezcuco Plantation. But in 2002, the plantation had a bad fire. The owners decided not to rebuild. So, Hambrick had to find a new place for the museum.
She moved the River Road African American Museum to Donaldsonville. This city is about 70 miles from New Orleans. Donaldsonville has a strong connection to black history.
Donaldsonville's Important Past
In 1868, Donaldsonville elected Pierre Caliste Landry as mayor. He was a lawyer and a minister. He became the first African-American mayor in the United States.
During the Civil War, many enslaved people escaped to Donaldsonville. They found safety with Union soldiers. Some even fought with Union soldiers in 1863. They helped defend Fort Butler. This fort is now on the National Register of Historic Places.
After the war, many freedmen (formerly enslaved people) moved to Donaldsonville. They left the countryside to build new lives. They started businesses and created strong communities. Donaldsonville had the third-largest black population of any city in Louisiana.
Hambrick was able to move important historic buildings to the museum's new site. These include the first black elementary school in Ascension Parish. There is also the meeting house of an early African-American insurance agency. Another building is the African Plantation house. It was owned by the first African-American doctor in the parish.
Museum Programs and Exhibits
The museum has many interesting exhibits. They teach about black inventors, jazz musicians, and important community leaders. These people were all from the local area.
One exhibit is about the free people of color in the parish. This exhibit uses old census records and town documents. The museum also has a great collection of artifacts. These are items from plantations along the River Road. Some were given by the plantations themselves. Others were donated by families.
The museum also hosts traveling exhibits from other places. They often have educational programs and workshops. These events teach about culture and history.
See also
