Bayou Pigeon Heritage Folklife Museum
A tribute to this enduring way of life through exhibits, storytelling, and preservation.
Details
The Bayou Pigeon Heritage Association is proud to introduce and welcome you to the Bayou Pigeon Heritage Folklife Museum. Museums make a unique contribution to the public by collecting, preserving, and interpreting the stories and objects of the past. Our mission is to preserve, perpetuate, and advance the heritage, folklife, and human spirit of the early Cajuns from the Pierre Part, Belle River, Lake Verrett, and Bayou Pigeon communities.
The museum was founded in response to a growing need: the way of life that once defined these bayou communities is rapidly disappearing. Fewer young people today are choosing the life of full-time swampers and fishermen, and many of the old customs and traditions are fading with each passing generation.
The river communities along the eastern Atchafalaya Basin—such as Ramah, Bayou Plaquemine, Bayou Sorrel, Bayou Pigeon, Pierre Part, Belle River, and Stevensville—have long been known for their rich folklife and strong Cajun traditions. Although many former residents now live in suburbs closer to their jobs, the memories made along the bayous remain deeply meaningful. In recent years, some have even returned to buy old homes and use them as camps, hoping to maintain a lasting connection to the culture that shaped them.
Through exhibits, storytelling, and preservation efforts, the Bayou Pigeon Heritage Folklife Museum serves as a tribute to this enduring way of life—and a reminder of the resilience, identity, and spirit of the Bayou Cajuns.
The museum is open by appointment only, Monday – Friday. Send an email to bayoupigeonheritage@gmail.com to schedule a tour.