History & Heritage in Ville Platte Louisiana

History & Heritage

One facet of Louisiana that makes it such an appealing visitor destination is its deep and colorful history. European explorers found their way to the region and inhabited the area very early relative to settlement of much of the rest of the continent. As a result, some communities in Louisiana are among the oldest in the United States. Before those explorers arrived, of course, people we now know as Native Americans populated the region. Reaching still farther back in time, ancient peoples left their mark on the area thousands of years ago. The state of Louisiana offers many ways to explore the region’s rich history, in hundreds of museums, historic structures, landmarks, artifacts and works of art. The careful preservation and restoration of these sites and artifacts has created many rare opportunities for visitors to experience Louisiana’s history and gain insights into the diverse cultures that continue to influence the state today.

Ville Platte

The thunder of hooves heard in Ville Platte each October would presumably warm the heart of Marcellin Garand, a former cavalry officer in Napoleon's army who is credited with founding this city in the northern reaches of modern day Cajun country. Here, his equestrian legacy is remembered during the Louisiana Tournoi, a one-of-a-kind horseback tournament, where riders wearing capes and costume armor vie to lance the most gold rings while racing along a rustic track. The event is held in conjunction with the Louisiana Cotton Festival, which honors the area's agricultural bounty with a downtown parade, a ball and visits by festival queens. Throughout the year, visitors find Cajun food and swamp pop music galore, a historic district straddling El Camino Real, the Spanish colonial-era trail connecting New Orleans to Natchitoches and easy access to Chicot State Park with its many acres of wooded, rolling hills and meandering, cypress-studded waterways.

Trip Ideas

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10 Cajun Essentials: Guide to Cajun Culture in Louisiana

Want to experience everything Cajun? Try these top ten Cajun things to do in Louisiana.

Weekend in Natchitoches

This southern belle offers antebellum homes, stately oaks, brick-lined streets, great oyster po-boys and of course a meat pie!

Mansfield State Historic Site

See the Civil War site where the Confederates won a hard-earned victory against Union invaders.

Baton Rouge History on Display

Downtown Baton Rouge is home to the Old Governor’s Mansion, Shaw Center for the Arts and the Louisiana Art & Science Museum and Planetarium.

Military History Lives on Louisiana Battleship

The USS Kidd was named for Medal of Honor recipient Isaac C. Kidd Sr., who was killed aboard his flagship USS Arizona during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941.

World War II Museum Honors Greatest Generation

The museum has something of a sacred mission: telling the epic story of the most destructive war the world has ever known.

River Road Plantations

To get a first-hand look at the grand plantations of Louisiana’s colonial and antebellum past, visitors only need to take a tour down River Road.

10 Things to Do in Natchitoches Parish

Explore Natchitoches Parish, the land of Cane River, teeming with history and beauty around every corner.

Locust Grove State Historic Site

Louisiana’s plantation past comes alive at this small family cemetery.

Campaigns of Courage Pavilion Opens at National WWII Museum

The New Orleans museum brings the struggles and victories of the Greatest Generation to life with extraordinary new exhibits.

Top 10 Things to Do in West Feliciana Parish

Charming small-town feel packed with history, culture and beautiful views. Welcome to West Feliciana!

Plaquemine Lock State Historic Site

Head south of Baton Rouge for a look into Louisiana’s shipping history.

Los Adaes State Historic Site

At this 300-year-old site that was once the capital of Texas, you’ll get an up-close look at battles waged between two global superpowers.

African American Heritage Trail Itinerary: Cajun Country

Make your way on I-10 West from Baton Rouge towards Cajun Country to take in the plentiful impact of African American History Trail.

Haunted At The Myrtles

A St. Francisville plantation home is reputed to be one of the most haunted places in Louisiana.

Cajun vs. Creole Food - What is the Difference?

Louisiana's food is steeped with historical influences including Cajun and Creole cuisines. Learn what differentiates Cajun and Creole food.

Louisiana State Parks Offer Cabin Getaways

When it comes to finding an affordable, family-friendly getaway that offers something for everyone, look no further than a Louisiana State Park.

Civil War Battle Re-lived in Jackson, Louisiana

The Battle of Jackson plays out annually, more than a century after the original conflict, in a picturesque field outside of Jackson, Louisiana.

Cane River National Heritage Area

Historic landmarks, colonial forts and Creole plantations are highlights of the Cane River National Heritage Area.

Louisiana's 4-H Club History

In 1908, Mr. V.L. Roy, Superintendent of Avoyelles Parish Schools, organized the first Corn Club, the forerunner of the 4-H Club in Louisiana

Longfellow-Evangeline State Historic Site

Stand at a cultural crossroads in Louisiana’s first state park.

10 Things To Do in St. Landry Parish

St. Landry Parish offers so many diverse activities and attractions that they say it's gumbo for the soul!

Marksville State Historic Site

Attempt to unlock the mysteries of an ancient culture that built massive earthworks on the banks of the Old River.

Audubon State Historic Site

See the landscape and wildlife that inspired one of America’s most famous naturalists.

Rosedown Plantation State Historic Site

Tour the house and gardens of a luxurious 19th century cotton plantation.

Louisiana's Culinary Hall of Fame

Get the guide to Louisiana's most famous dishes and where you can eat them!

Louisiana Civil War Sites

Sites throughout Louisiana commemorate key Civil War events and honor sacrifices in the worst conflict the nation ever faced on its own soil.

History Comes Alive at the LSU Rural Life Museum

You’ll feel as if you are traveling through time as you walk among historical displays at the LSU Rural Life Museum in Baton Rouge.

Chicot State Park

Louisiana’s largest state park is home to trails, water playgrounds and the Louisiana State Arboretum.

Day Trip Ideas Near Poverty Point

After exploring Poverty Point World Heritage Site, stay in the area for one-of-a-kind experiences.

Famous Authors of Louisiana: Literary Lovers' Guide

Louisiana's rich history has produced a diverse group of authors, writers, and poets who have dotted the state with literary landmarks.

Otis House at Fairview-Riverside State Park

Learn about the history of 19th century Madisonville entrepreneur while walking the grounds of a magnificent state park.

Making History at Frogmore Plantation

Learn the stories of Civil War soldiers, cotton kingpins, slaves and sharecroppers at a 19th-century plantation where cotton is still farmed today.

Louisiana's Unique Museums and Exhibitions

Here is a sampling of museums in Louisiana and their unique exhibitions preserving Louisiana history.

Kent Plantation House State Historic Site

Tour the grounds of an opulent 18th century sugar plantation, one of Louisiana’s oldest.

Famous Streets Across Louisiana

Get to know Louisiana a little better via its iconic streets in cities around the state.

Ultimate List of Louisiana Products to Serve with Holiday Meals

Prepare your holiday meals in style with these locally-made Louisiana products.

10 Things to Do in Thibodaux and Lafourche Parish

Explore the hundreds of miles of Bayous, small town charm and experience the Cajun culture first hand.

Louisiana’s Historic Architecture

Louisiana has preserved it's cultural heritage through architecture.

Grand Opera House of the South is a Downtown Crowley Attraction

Among more than 200 structures in Crowley that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the opera house is truly grand.

Fort Jesup State Historic Site

This Mexican-American War-era fort is central to a little-known chapter in American history.

Forts Randolph and Buhlow State Historic Site

Walk through Civil War history at these central Louisiana forts.

Civil War Battle of Pleasant Hill re-enacted

A major event in the Red River Campaign of the Civil War is revisited every year at Pleasant Hill.

Gretna Historical Society

Gretna, in Jefferson Parish, is home to one of Louisiana's largest National Register of Historic Places districts.

Louisiana State Arboretum State Preservation Area

Experience extraordinary plants and wildlife in the state’s official tree conservancy.

Fort St. Jean Baptiste State Historic Site

Tour a replica of the first European settlement in what would become the Louisiana Purchase.

Tour the River Road and Capital for Plantations, Dining and Outdoor Fun

Follow the Mississippi River as it flows through Baton Rouge and the heart of Plantation Country.

7 Ways to Tour New Orleans

Get better acquainted with the Crescent City by taking one of its many tours.

Top Ten Things to Do in Acadia Parish

From antiques and candy shops to historic opera houses and Cajun food, get ready to explore a simpler side of Louisiana.

Centenary State Historic Site

Tour the grounds of Louisiana’s oldest college, founded in 1826.

African-American Heritage Trail Itinerary: Crossroads

Get your itinerary and trip ideas for exploring the African-American Heritage Trail in the Crossroads region of the state.

Rebel State Historic Site

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

Discover the Plantation Parade

These four plantations will take you on a trip through time to discover the stories of Louisiana's past.

African-American Heritage Itinerary: Plantation Country

Explore the African-American Heritage Trail in the Baton Rouge and St. Francisville Area with this itinerary of things to do.

Creole Nature Trail

Designated an All-American Road in 2002, this 180-mile trail was one of the first National Scenic Byways in the Gulf South.

Port Hudson State Historic Site

Walk the hallowed grounds where the longest siege in U.S. military history took place.

African-American Heritage Trail Itinerary: New Orleans

Use this itinerary to discover the deep history of the African-American Heritage Trail in New Orleans.

Return to Grandeur at Nottoway Plantation

One of the largest remaining antebellum mansions in the South, Nottoway will be an American treasure for decades to come.

Take the Scenic Route: Louisiana’s Byways

History, wildlife and great views of nature await those who explore Louisiana's scenic byways.

Battle of New Orleans in Chalmette

A clearing along the river just south of New Orleans was the site of one of the most famous battles ever fought on American soil.

The Louisiana Hayride Show - Most Successful Stage in Music History?

The most successful stage in music history? Second only to the Grand Ole Opry, many claim the Louisiana Hayride had a more significant impact on today’s music scene.

Explore Louisiana's Civil War History

Louisiana's civil war sites pay tribute to its fallen soldiers.

A Visit to Frogmore Plantation, Where Cotton is Still King

Walk through high cotton and pick some yourself at this 19th-century plantation.

What is Swamp Pop Music?

Rock 'n' roll came to the swamp and the result was an all-new sound.

Grambling University, Eddie G. Robinson Museum

With great pride, I announce the next stop on the North Louisiana African American Heritage Trail: my hometown, Grambling.

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Louisiana Swamp Pop Museum

City: Ville Platte

205 NW Railroad Ave Ville Platte, LA 70586

Website 337-363-0900

Swamp pop's rich history lives again at the new museum, filled with stage costumes, photos, records, a wall of fame of autographs and more rare memorabilia. Large charts and maps outline swamp...

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Explore The Area

Visit the Biedenharn Coke Museum in Monroe, Louisiana

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Commemorative red stick statue at Southern University in Baton Rouge.

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Take a ride on one of New Orleans streetcars.

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View a Clementine Hunter mural in the African House at Melrose Plantation.

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Louisiana's Old State Capitol rotunda stained glass ceiling.

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Naval Air Station Joint Reserve in Belle Chasse, Louisiana

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Evergreen Plantation

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Mardi Gras Indians at New Orleans Jazz Festival

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Louisiana Port Hudson Historic Park

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Street signs in New Iberia are in three languages

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Louisiana State Cotton Museum

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Visit the USS Kidd Veterans Museum in Baton Rouge.

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Stroll the boardwalks at Louisiana State Arboretum State Preservation Area

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Stella Shouting Contest at the Tennessee Williams Literary Festival

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USS Kidd in Baton Rouge

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Oak Alley Plantation, Restaurant and Inn, on River Road in Vacherie, Louisiana, boasts an Antebellum mansion and B&B accommodations in century-old cottages set in 25 acres of lush, oak-lined grounds.

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