THE GREAT RIVER ROAD MUSEUM AT HOUMAS HOUSE TO CELEBRATE GRAND OPENING THIS WEEKEND

BATON ROUGE, La. – The Great River Road Museum at Houmas House in Darrow, Louisiana, will mark it’s grand opening on Sunday, November 12, 2023, from 4 p.m. – 8 p.m. This museum was partially constructed with a $5.2 million National Scenic Byway grant administered by the Federal Highway Administration, the largest National Scenic Byway grant awarded to a single project in the United States.  

“The Great River Road All-American Road follows the course of the Mississippi River for 3,000 miles from northern Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico. The scenic route passes through 10 states and hundreds of river towns. The Great River Road is arguably the longest and most important scenic byway in America,” said Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser.  

Opened in 2020, the 30,000-square-foot museum is a state-of-the-art, $15 million facility chronicling the history and telling life stories along the lower Mississippi River from Baton Rouge through New Orleans to the mouth of the river. It explores river life on the east and west banks of the Mississippi River, interpreting explorers and early settlers, Native Americans, transportation, culture, commerce, folklore, music, and other colorful aspects of Louisiana history.  

In December 2021, The Great River Road Museum at Houmas House was added to the Great River Road Network of Museums and Interpretive Centers. To date, there are nearly 100 centers in the Great River Road Network interpreting the stories of the Mississippi River. These centers reside along the 10-state stretch of the river and include museums, parks, aquariums, and nature centers along with historic and prehistoric sites.  

“Because of the pandemic, The Great Mississippi River Road Museum did not have a grand opening,” said Kevin Kelly, owner of Houmas House Estate and Gardens. “This museum was created because of the need for a lower Mississippi River showcase. Minneapolis, the northern tip of the Great River Road, has many museums and attractions featuring the Mississippi River. The lower part of the Great River Road needed the same attraction to tell its stories. This museum serves that purpose.”  

Individuals interested in appending the grand opening are asked to fill out the form on The Great River Road Museum Grand Opening RSVP webpage.

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