Inarguably as important to the role played by our landmarks and culture-bearers in representing Louisiana's vast heritage are the institutions ensuring that their stories are kept alive for all those who come after. In downtown New Iberia, the state-of-the-art Bayou Teche Museum illustrates the natural and cultural history of the Bayou Teche, showing how the waterway informed each and every aspect of survival for those who lived along its banks, from the Native Americans who first named it for its snake-like shape, to the area's colonial Spanish heritage, to the Acadian exiles who eventually called it home.
Part of the museum's mission involves integrating its rich local history into public life, making New Iberia's colorful culture visible and accessible outside of the museum's walls. Thanks to this effort, the Bayou Teche Museum was part of an initiative to create a park honoring New Iberia native and famed Blue Dog painter George Rodrigue. Funded by the park committee, the George Rodrigue Memorial Park recently opened on New Iberia's Main Street, with an aluminum tri-color sculpture of the iconic Blue Dog welcoming families and four-legged friends to the green space at its entrance, which also includes a children’s art display and activity area. The pocket park celebrates Rodrigue's extensive career and contributions to his home state as an arts advocate and philanthropist.
Courtesy of Louisiana Travel
Bayou Teche Museum
Rodrigue's Blue Dog series, inspired by the Cajun urban legend of the rougarou, catapulted the artist to international fame, which he capitalized on in 2009 by creating the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts. The nonprofit organization has raised millions for post-Katrina relief efforts, art scholarships and art supplies for school kids, encourages the use of art within all curriculums and supports a variety of art educational programs. The helpful folks at the museum are always striving to expand their collection and program offerings, and even recently installed Rodrigue's last working studio from California as part of their permanent exhibit dedicated to the artist's legacy.
Thanks to a yearslong capital campaign, the museum is in the process of executing a multimillion dollar expansion plan to restore the building interior and construct the new Doc Voorhies Wing. After the passing of the late Kathleen Babineaux Blanco in 2019 to cancer, Louisiana's first woman-elected governor and a New Iberia native, the museum made plans to pay tribute to the trailblazing state leader with a permanent Blanco exhibit in their expansion. Earlier this month, the museum unveiled a new state historical marker honoring Blanco in Bouligny Plaza, and will soon display a life-sized depiction of her in front of the museum. iberiatravel.com.
