Alexandre Mouton House (aka Lafayette Museum) is a historic house and a museum dedicated to the people and culture of Lafayette and south Louisiana. Admire the house’s antebellum architecture and then browse displays of artifacts, which range from authentic Mardi Gras costumes to period furniture. Alexandre Mouton House was opened as a museum in 1954 by a group of 24 women known as Les Vingt Quatre, whose aim was to promote civic pride.
The house is of great historical importance. Jean Mouton, one of southwest Louisiana’s earliest settlers, constructed a humble house around 1818. Mouton’s son, Alexandre Mouton, who was Louisiana’s first Democratic Governor, then redeveloped it into a larger family home. Up until the late 1940s the house was occupied by aristocratic families that helped shape the growth of Lafayette.
Today’s house consists of a two-level building crowned by a cupola, an adjoining Acadian-style building and a brick smoke house. Look for the names of former residents scratched into the window panes. The oldest dates back to 1855.
Step inside and watch a short video presentation about the role the house has played in Lafayette folklore. Afterwards, stroll between the many rooms to find a variety of genuine objects. Spot antique chinaware, musical instruments, portraits of former residents and religious statuettes. See a superb display of the traditional costumes used during flamboyant Mardi Gras parades.
Alexandre Mouton House sits toward the south of downtown Lafayette. It’s less than a 10-minute walk from major city attractions such as the Acadiana Center for the Arts and Cathedral of St. John. Public buses stop on nearby Lee Avenue and there’s a metered parking garage situated on S. Buchanan Street.
The museum is open from Tuesday to Saturday and there’s an admission fee. Guided tours are conducted during opening hours. Brochures for self-guided tours are also available. Visit the museum’s official website for more information.
