Jean Lafitte NHP and Perserve

The Treasure of Jean Lafitte:

In Jean Lafitte's day, silver and gold filled a pirate's treasure chest, but today's treasures are people, places, and memories. Discover New Orleans’ rich cultural mix. Learn Cajun traditions from people who live them. Watch an alligator bask on a bayou’s bank. Walk in the footsteps of the men who fought in 1815’s Battle of New Orleans.

Jean Lafitte's six sites are scattered across south Louisiana:

Each is unique in its focus, and they all reflect a place where traditions can be generations old but the ground under your feet can change with the weather. The park's sites share the story of a place where change is the only constant, from the waterways that shape the land in new patterns every day to the never-ending balancing act between old ways and new ideas.

17 Oct 2026

14 Oct 2026

We made a stop at the Wetlands Acadian Cultural Center in Thibodaux Louisiana to pick up a BARK Tag for Daisy Mae. We have toured the Center before, so this was a quick stop this visit. Daisy Mae was invited inside to meet the Ranger's and Volunteers then got her BARK tags. 

20 Jan 2023

Today was a trip into New Orleans and a stop at the French Quarter Visitors Center. Small Visitors center that tells the history and traditions of the lower Mississippi River delta and of New Orleans. We spent an hour here taking in the exhibits and short movie. This location is currently sharing space with the New Orleans Jazz NHP, so you can get two for one with this stop. 

16 Dec 2019

Today we got to take in the first of the six sites, Wetlands Acadian Cultural Center in Thibodaux. The lives of the Acadians (Cajuns) and others whose travels brought them to Louisiana's Bayous are featured at the Wetlands Acadian Cultural Center. We got to explore recreation, clothing, home furnishings, religion, cuisine, and fishing through the exhibits, artifacts, video, and films. This was a great site to visit, and we look forward to seeing the other sites.

Click here for photos of our visit 16 Dec 2019

Click here for photos of our visit 17 Oct 2026

NPS Website

Our 143rd NPS Unit

Ste. Genevieve NHP

Established by 1750, Ste Genevieve was the first permanent European settlement in Missouri. Early French-Canadian settlers were drawn here by the rich agricultural land know as le Grand Champ (the Big Field). After the flood of 1785, the town relocated to its present location on higher ground approximately three miles to the northwest of its original site. 

Oct 4, 2026

If you like touring homes from the late 1700 - early 1800's this is a Unit for you. We started at the Visitor Center to find what tours were available today. We signed up for two tours and was given the okay to bring Daisy Mae along for the town tour. They have four short films to take in at the Visitor Center, but we decided to skip them. We met up with Ranger Alex for our town tour, and we had her undivided attention as we were the only ones on this tour. The tour gave us a great overview of the history of Ste Genevieve and the meaning of this unit. The afternoon tour was with Ranger Nick and a tour of the Jean Baptiste Valle House. Once again, we had Ranger Nicks undivided attention. The house is not furnished yet and the tour was more of a sit-down discussion about family traditions and saving those traditions and tying this into why this unit come to be. We then walked around the house. This house was occupied till 2010 and has gone though many changes and modifications, but the bones are still there of the 1794 house. We enjoyed our time we spent here and look forward to a return to see some of the other homes. We spent a day here and that may be enough for many, or you could add a day to get in a few more home visits. 

Click here for photos of our visit

NPS Website

Our 189th NPS Unit