I have been in a lot of museums in my day; probably hundreds. I love museums, and I especially appreciate small ones that tell the history of a community and its importance in the bigger picture.
One such museum I visited recently was Bayou Teche Museum. Located on Main Street in New Iberia, Louisiana, it is one of the best small museums I have ever toured.
One highlighted artist is George Rodrigue (1944-2013), who is best known as the Blue Dog artist and, in his later career, for his Louisiana landscapes.
An area representing his office offers a look at his life as an artist. Other areas of the museum contain more examples of his work.
Another honored individual who grew up in New Iberia is Louisiana’s first female governor, Kathleen Babineaux Blanco. A high-tech area shows her sitting at her desk. You can walk up to her and ask her a question, and she’ll answer you.
Other exhibits cover Mardi Gras, music, and the writings of James Lee Burke. He wrote a series of crime novels with Dave Robicheaux as the main character. The character appeared twice on screen with Alec Baldwin and Tommy Lee Jones.
There is a lot to see in this museum, which occupies two storefronts. If you visit New Iberia and nearby Avery Island, where the famous Tabasco hot sauce is made, make sure to stroll along Main Street and check out the museum.
For more information about the museum, click here. For information on New Iberia, click here.
