Built in 1898, Lafayette’s first city hall originally served as the Bank of Lafayette until 1906 when the city purchased the building for $4,500. The 2.5 story building was designed by local architect, George Knapp, and is a wonderful example of the Rococo style. The building served as the seat for the city’s government and city council for 33 years until a new city hall was built in 1939. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975, the first building in Lafayette to earn that honor.
This historic cathedral, completed in 1916, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is the third church built on the site donated by Jean Mouton in 1821, when Lafayette was the town of Vermilionville. Nearby St. John Cemetery is the oldest in the city of Lafayette. The high water table in South Louisiana makes aboveground burial a necessity in most places in the region.
This statue honors the French aristocrat who became a hero for the rebels fighting Great Britain in the American Revolution. The statue was dedicated in 1987 and celebrates the French military leader who is best known for blocking British forces under Lord Cornwallis from being able to retreat during the Siege of Yorktown. Lafayette later became an influential leader of the French Revolution and was one of the architects of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen. The city was named Vermilionville in 1821 and changed its name to Lafayette in 1884.
Originally built around 1800, the Alexandre Mouton House is an historic home in Lafayette, Louisiana. It is now a museum dedicated towards preserving the history of southern Louisiana. It was built by Alexandre's father, Jean Mouton, who was one of the first settlers in the area. Alexandre began living there around 1825 and remained there until 1836. Alexandre served as the governor of Louisiana from 1843-1846. Successive owners lived in the house until 1954, when a women's group called the Les Vint-Quatre purchased the house for the purpose of opening it up as a museum. The home was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.
Dedicated in 1922 by the United Daughters of the Confederacy, this statue commemorates Confederate General Alfred Mouton who perished during the Civil war. There have been several major protest to have the statue removed, one in 1980 and the other recently in 2016. Mouton was a influential member in the community, but he was known for owning slaves and contributing to several acts of violence against African Americans. People within the city and surrounding area still see it has history and tradition, but this is a false hope leaning on the Lost Cause. There have been several attempts to have it removed and various prestigious people in Lafayette coming out about it being moved or taken down.
The Lafayette Science Museum is dedicated towards providing fun and educational science programming for people of all ages. Its origins go back to 1969 when a women's group called the Les Deux Douzaines started a community volunteer project that provided science education to schools in the area. The popularity of what the group was doing resulted in the museum moving into a temporary site in Gerard Park. In 1992, some operations moved into a former department store and the rest followed suit in 2002. The museum contains permanent exhibits that explore space travel, geology, meteorites and aquatic life. The museum also houses a library and archives.
This Tour is a Walking Tour.
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This tour features prominent historic locations in Lafayette, Louisiana including the Old City Hall, a cathedral, monuments dedicated to two of Lafayette's most noteworthy residents, and a historic home.
