Longfellow-Evangeline State Historic Site

Longfellow-Evangeline is a historic site in St. Martinville featuring several preserved buildings from the early 1800s scattered across wooded grounds. The main plantation house sits alongside smaller structures including a blacksmith shop, a log cabin, and outbuildings that show how people worked and lived near the bayou.

The land was originally used by the Attakapas people for hunting before French settlers established plantations growing indigo and later cotton. The buildings standing today date from this period of agricultural development in the 1800s.

The site holds meaning for Acadian descendants who trace their roots to families forced from Canada. The buildings and daily life shown here reflect how these communities adapted and built new lives in the Louisiana bayou region.

The grounds are open to visitors for self-guided exploration or guided tours, with most buildings accessible for viewing inside or from the exterior. Wear comfortable walking shoes since pathways connect the structures across wooded terrain and the ground can be damp near the bayou.

The site is closely tied to Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poem "Evangeline," which tells the story of Acadian exile and gave this location literary fame. The poem's influence helped establish this place as a symbol of Acadian identity in America.

Location: Louisiana

Inception: 1815

Official opening: 1934

Website: https://lastateparks.com/historic-sites/longfellow-evangeline-state-historic-site

GPS coordinates: 30.13390,-91.82670

Latest update: December 6, 2025 17:43