Lafayette's Southern Oaks
The magnificent live oak trees of Acadiana are impossible to miss, but they're also worth stopping a moment for.
Lafayette is a hot destination for Louisiana visitors for many good reasons—Bayou Teche, the Cajun culture, great food, live music, fun festivals, and friendly locals. All make it easy to love and hard to forget. And when tourists review their photos from their visit to Cajun country, they often notice another memorable icon that’s native to Cajun country—the distinctive moss-draped live oak tree.
Besides being the heart of Acadiana, Lafayette can also be called the heart of live oak country. Here, you will find some of the most famous and impressive examples of this truly Southern oak species.
Two are easy to locate, right near downtown: at the intersection of Johnston Street and University Avenue, take a short stroll in the cool shade of the 20th Century Oaks. Dr. Edwin Stephens, the first president of the Southwestern Louisiana Institute (now the University of Louisiana at Lafayette), planted these century-old trees on New Years Day in 1901,the first day of the 20th Century.
Looking from the trees toward ULL campus buildings, you’ll see a life-sized bronze statue of Dr. Stephens. In its hand, the statue holds a live oak acorn. In 2014, the statue was erected near the Century Oaks to honor Stephens’ 38-year tenure as president and his legacy as founder of the Live Oak Society. This unique organization, comprised entirely of live oak trees (and one human chairperson) was founded in 1934 with 43 original member trees. Today, the Society counts more than 8,500 oaks in 14 southeastern states on its registry.
A few blocks north, growing next to the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, you can’t miss the sprawling shape of the St. John Cathedral Oak. This is probably the most well-known live oak in Lafayette. In 1821, Jean Mouton, an Acadian refugee and owner of a large plantation named Vermilionville, donated the land on which the oak grows to the church parish. According to the cathedral’s website, the first pastor may have requested this specific site from Mouton because of the towering live oak tree growing there. The Cathedral Oak was one of the Live Oak Society’s 43 original member trees, and some estimates place the tree’s age at more than 450 years old.
While you’re in downtown Lafayette, you’ll find no shortage of great places to dine and things to do. For an artistic dining experience, try the Blue Dog Café (1211 W. PInhook Rd.), home to an expansive collection of artwork by Cajun painter George Rodrigue, and a sampling of genuine Cajun fare. For lunch and dinner with a Spanish flair, try the Pamplona Tapas Bar (631 Jefferson St.). For a taste of local seafood, there’s the new Spoonbill Watering Hole & Restaurant (900 Jefferson St.), and the local tradition since 1934, Don’s Seafood & Steakhouse (301 Vermillion St.). Notorious for blocking traffic on Johnston St. heading downtown is Taco Sisters, a local favorite that offers a drive-thru as well as outside seating under umbrellas.
Bill Guion is a writer and photographer whose book Quercus Louisiana, published in March of this year, documents 30 years of travel documenting Louisiana’s historic live oak trees.