Rebel State Historic Site

Country and gospel music come together with Civil War commemoration at this west Louisiana museum.

Rebel State Historic Site

Visit Rebel State Historic Site in Marthaville.

Louisiana Country Music Museum at Rebel State Historic Site

At Rebel State Historic Site, you can also see the Louisiana Country Music Museum.

Rebel State Historic Site was founded on the site where an unknown Confederate soldier is buried. According to local lore, Confederate soldiers were walking through this remote stretch of West Louisiana, when one of their troops was somehow separated from his unit. Union soldiers found and shot the man, and left him on the road where he died.

Soon afterward, the man’s body was found by a family that had spoken with him just before the incident. They buried him near the road, and in 1962, locals erected a marker at the spot and began to hold annual ceremonies that honor the unknown soldier.

Over the years, the site has also become a destination for country and gospel musicians and their fans. The folk music traditions of west Louisiana are strong, as you’ll discover when visiting the Louisiana Country Music Museum at Rebel State Historic Site. The museum contains exhibits describing the history and evolution of folk music in this region, and also features an impressive collection of country and folk music memorabilia.

Nearby attractions include the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame & Northwest Louisiana History Museum and the vast Kisatchie National Forest, ideal for camping and outdoor activities.

Entrance fee: $4 per person; free for seniors 62 and older, and children 3 and under.