Roadhouse, Raceland, Louisiana by Russell Lee, September 1938 Library of Congress

“The old hardware store is one of the most classic, beautiful buildings in Lafayette, and we are excited to take the first steps towards developing it as a new national destination for lovers of Louisiana’s music and culture,” said AcA Executive Director Samuel Oliver.

This project envisions creating a new museum at 121 W. Vermilion St, immediately adjacent to the AcA, to complement the existing visitor destinations and to serve as a new permanent home for the many diverse stories of Louisiana music, told from a distinctly “Acadiana” perspective.

AcA envisions the building serving as both a museum and a dynamic cultural hub, celebrating the continuing legacy of Louisiana’s musical heritage. Visitors and locals alike will gather to listen, dance, play, and learn about Louisiana music for generations to come.

“Although the creation of such a museum, with Cajun and Creole music at its core, has long been a daydream of many in Acadiana’s cultural sector, it is our belief that the AcA’s current plan represents the best and most appropriate route for making it a reality,” says UL Center for Louisiana Studies Director Joshua Caffery.

Any inquiries regarding the project can be directed to AcA Executive Director Samuel Oliver, including media, proposals for services, and donation inquiries.

Project Plan

Acadiana Center for the Arts is renovating and redeveloping the historic Lafayette Hardware Store, a 10,000 sq. ft. late 19th century mercantile building on the National Register of Historic Places. Honoring its vintage architectural character, the revered hardware store will transform into a new museum, dedicated to the music and musicians of Louisiana. The Louisiana Music Museum will function as an extension of AcA, furthering and enhancing its nonprofit mission of fostering art and culture in Acadiana.

The Louisiana Music Museum will feature an interactive permanent exhibit hall highlighting the breadth and depth of Louisiana’s diverse music genres. Programming and workshops will provide opportunities for participation in Cajun and Creole dances, talks, jam sessions, educational offerings, rotating temporary exhibitions, and occasional rentals for private events. The facility is being designed with museum standards in mind as well as flexibility for a variety of uses, and accessible pathways to serve the needs of every sort of museum visitor. 

Key Objectives

Embrace the Local Community: The Louisiana Music Museum aims to be a community institution that welcomes people from all over the world to Lafayette while remaining respectful towards, relevant to, and reflective of the local and regional community. By becoming an enriching and lively experience about the people, places, and impact of music in Louisiana, the Louisiana Music Museum will serve as a hub where the community can continually reengage with its living music culture.

Engage Music and Culture Bearers: The Louisiana Music Museum will forge strong connections between the local music culture bearers and economic opportunities in order to make a meaningful contribution to the perpetuation of the many distinct styles and forms of musical traditions.

Provide Inspiring Education: The Louisiana Music Museum will serve as a bridge between generations, passing down the key histories of Louisiana’s music through lived experiences to students and young people in an engaging way in order to ensure that the legacy continues to thrive. 

Deliver an Exceptional Visitor Experience: At the heart of this vision is a dedication to creating a world-class experience for all visitors, particularly English and French speakers. Through interactive exhibitions and engaging programming, such as listening stations and dance demonstrations, the Louisiana Music Museum strives to transport its guests into the heart and soul of Louisiana’s musical essence.

Operate with Sustainability: The Louisiana Music Museum will have the ability to grow, adapt, and continually evolve because its programs and offerings are well-valued and produce the financial resources needed to thrive.

Collaborate in Preservation: The Louisiana Music Museum will build a collection of artifacts and media only to support the core exhibition. The museum will collaborate with the existing network of museums, archives, and libraries to identify objects and media and to direct inquiries related to the preservation of artifacts and archives related to Louisiana’s music heritage. The museum will borrow collections for rotating exhibitions and may, in some instances, serve as a repository for at-risk artifacts and archives before finding them a permanent home.