Acadian Cultural Center

Its a nice visitor center type spot that gives you great history on the Acadiana region and admission was free of charge. The ranger on duty gave us a presentation of the makeshift musical instruments. The gift shop on property is reasonably priced. Parking is great and the facility is right up the road from Vermilionville Historical Village

Right down the road from Vermillionville. Lovely educational addition to my trip. Plenty of interesting things to read and look at. Did not catch the movie but there is a spacious theater here as well.

The National Park Service has a beautiful exhibit here. The movie was very moving and taught me a lot about the Acadian story. It is a history that needs to be remembered and understood. I have a new appreciation for my wife and her ancestors. The Ranger (William) was very helpful and made our visit special. The exhibits are colorful and speak to a rich history where family is one of the most important things. Check this place out!

As Canadians and Quebecers, we have so much respect for our fellows « Acadiens » and we visited the Acadian Cultural Centre with interest and curiosity. We learned a lot and had not realized that le « Grand derangement » brought Acadians in many places in the USA. Rangers at the Centre were kind and helpful. The movie presented is very informative but presents Acadians as victims and I think that we need to celebrate their resilience. I was expecting the movie to be available in French (more than just the subtitles) but I understand most of the visitors don’t speak French. Boys got their junior ranger badge and had fun finding the answers in the exhibit. The centre is free and we truly enjoyed our visit.

WONDERFUL exhibits that are detailed in history and artifacts. This is the place to learn about the history of the area. Rangers here we’re very friendly, and place is impeccably clean. Check out the green area outside the center as well, peaceful and quiet.

Great little visitors' center. Gives a good introduction on Cajun culture. The film tells about the expulsion of the Acadian people from Nova Scotia and how a number of them ended up down here in the Bayou. Many of these people are distantly related to the Acadians in the far northern part of Maine. No charge to enter, and there is a good chance you will run into people from Quebec or even France. Would highly recommend.

Was in the area for work. Had some time and I’m glad I was able to visit! It isn’t big, but a great glimpse into the local history

We love everything about this place. The content, the friendly service, and the cleanliness. The documentary gives a nice explanation of how the Cajuns came to be. I have been visiting the center for years. When we have out of town visitors, and the schedule allows, we take them to the center. It is a very nice place that is free. 😊

This is a fantastic place to visit and learn about the history of the area, where the locals came from and how they adapted to surviving and thriving in the environment. There's a walking trail, several artifacts on display and a 35 minute movie that explains the history both good and bad. If you're in the area it's a great way to spend 1-2 hours.

This has been on my list of places I want to visit for quite some time now. I am so glad I made it. There is no admission fee. The Acadian Cultural Center is in Lafayette and is run by the National Parks System and has no admission fee to the center and most programs. There is a film, permanent and special exhibits that share the history, customs, language, and contemporary culture of the Acadians who became Louisiana's Cajuns. The video titled "The Cajun Way: Echoes of Acadia" is about 45 minutes in length and is very informative. The whole place is a delight. I recommend it for anyone in the area.

Staff was very interesting and knowledgeable. Learned a lot while here! The only reason not to get 5 stars is that the ac was not working properly at the time of our visit.

This was a great experience for my husband and me, two old creatures who love history and wanted to know more about the Acadians, their culture, and their history. We really enjoyed the video about the history of the Acadians. It was very creative, not your usual dry history and date approach. It incorporated great sound and photography in a most different venue. We are in our late 70s so enjoyed something a little unordinary, not the usual run of the mill! You do have to listen carefully and pay attention to get all of the facts. The Park Ranger is Acadian and not only lovely, but bright, interesting, and knowledgeable. When we left, after having listened to her, watched the video, and walked through the exhibit, we thought that we had a better idea of Acadians and their culture. We are off to Nova Scotia in the summer and know that the experience today provided a good framework for this next trip. Pat Berne

From the website: "The Acadian Cultural Center in Lafayette tells stories of the origins, migration, settlement, and contemporary culture of the Acadians (Cajuns) and other area groups. Ranger programs, films, exhibits, and events share a variety of local traditions including music, story-telling, dance, and food, and explore the mysteries of the Atchafalaya Basin, Louisiana's wildest place." This place is great, especially if you enjoy history, anthropology, or languages! Free admission. Includes a bookshop with numerous excellent books on local Native-American tribes and history, The French in America (a biographies of Mr. Layfayette himself, for instance), and of course everything Cajun, including history books on the Acadians, language books about Cajun-French, Cajun and Creole cookbooks, Cajun and Creole music, and so forth. There is also a museum full of interesting things--it's all very informative and done very well. Another feature of the center is the short film they play about the Acadian people and the origins in Louisiana. The film, while informative, is a bit over-the-top, being melodramatic, and overly sentimental. The park rangers at the center were exceptionally kind and helpful. The ranger with whom I spoke and toured the museum, was herself a Cajun who spoke Cajun French. I want to go back! The center is part of the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve.

A must see on the way to Baton Rouge and New Orleans. The museum is free and there is a great movie on the history of the Acadian settlers.

A great stop to learn a little bit about the Acadian culture. The have a nice movie that brings you up to speed on how the Acadians ended up in Louisiana. Also don't miss the museum exhibits that show more about the Cajuns life. Friendly helpful staff are on hand to answer any questions you may have. Cute little gift shop too.

Nice place-great value since it was free. Helpful rangers and volunteers. Movie was a nice break from a busy day.