Photos, videos: A journey through the Great River Road Museum in Darrow
The Great River Road Museum, 40100 La. 942, Darrow, next door to Houmas House & Gardens, will host a belated grand opening celebration on Sunday, Nov. 12. The celebration, titled, 'Night at the Museum,' will take place from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Click here to read more: Night at the Museum: Everything will come to life at the Great River Road Museum's grand opening
The museum actually has been open since June 2020 but had to postpone its grand opening because of the state's COVID-19 lockdown.
The building is filled with thoroughly researched exhibits filled with authentic artifacts that tell the story of the lower Mississippi River. Exhibits are enhanced by wax figures that once inhabited the Musee Conti Wax Museum in New Orleans.
There's so much to see in the Great River Road Museum that visitors sometimes have to plan two visits to see everything. Sometimes, even two visits aren't enough.
The museum also has an inhouse cafe, called the Dixie Cafe.
Hours are 8 a.m.-4 p.m. daily. Admission is $20 for adults; $15 for teens ages 13-18; and $10 for children ages 6-12. Children age 5 and younger are admitted free.
For more information, call (225) 473-9380 or visit greatriverroadmuseum.org.
A likeness of Louisiana Gov. Edwin W. Edwards tries his hand at the roulette wheel in the Great River Road Museum. The wax figure once was a part of New Orleans' Musee Conti Wax Museum, which closed in 2016.
The Great River Road Museum stands next to Houmas House in Darrow. It opened in June 2020 but had to postpone its grand opening celebration because of the COVID pandemic. It will host its belated grand opening on Sunday, Nov. 12.
Legendary Louisiana Gov. Huey P. Long points at a chip on the craps table in the Great River Road Museum. The wax figure once was a part of New Orleans' Musee Conti Wax Museum, which closed in 2016.
Jimmy Blanchard, curator of the Great River Road Museum, stands next to an exhibit exploring the history of New Orleans philanthropist John McDonough who funded public schools in the city.
Walking among the gambling governors at the Great River Road Museum, which stands next door to Houmas House & Gardens on the River Road in Darrow. Staff video by Robin Miller
Bernard de Marigny, left, plays Louisiana Gov. William C.C. Claiborne in a game of cards. Marigny introduced the game of craps to the United States after learning it in Paris. This exhibit of wax figures are on exhibit at the Great River Road Museum.
Mark Twain stands in the pilot house overlooking the lobby area of the Great River Road Museum.
The Great River Road Museum includes a combination church-opera house setting, which features the pipe organ that once stood in the vaudeville house where New Orleans jazz trumpeter Louis Armstrong performed in his younger days.
Napoleon Bonaparte's death mask is on exhibit in the Great River Road Museum.
The original Mr. Bingle marionette, Maison Blanche's Christmas mascot, is on exhibit at the Great River Road Museum.
American and British troops fight out the Battle of New Orleans at the entryway of the Great River Road Museum. The wax figures once belonged to New Orleans' Musee Conti Wax Museum, which closed in 2016 after 54 years of operation.
American and British troops fight out the Battle of New Orleans at the entryway of the Great River Road Museum. The wax figures once belonged to New Orleans' Musee Conti Wax Museum, which closed in 2016 after 54 years of operation.
American and British troops fight out the Battle of New Orleans at the entryway of the Great River Road Museum. The wax figures once belonged to New Orleans' Musee Conti Wax Museum, which closed in 2016 after 54 years of operation.
American and British troops fight out the Battle of New Orleans at the entryway of the Great River Road Museum. The wax figures once belonged to New Orleans' Musee Conti Wax Museum, which closed in 2016 after 54 years of operation.
Curator Jimmy Blanchard, left, invites Monroe visitor Jan Nelson, a former piano teacher, to play the Great River Road Museum's Crown Jewel Steinway & Sons Kewazinga Bubinga.
Visitor Jan Nelson of Monroe, a former piano teacher, plays the Crown Jewel Steinway & Sons Kewazinga Bubinga in the Great River Road Museum.
Visitor Jan Nelson of Monroe, a former piano teacher, plays the Crown Jewel Steinway & Sons Kewazinga Bubinga in the Great River Road Museum.
The keys of the Great River Road Museum's Crown Jewel Steinway & Sons Kewazinga Bubinga reflect in its fallboard.
Great River Road Museum Curator Jimmy Blanchard shows an original letter signed by legendary lawyer and statesman Daniel Webster for a land grant case he represented in Louisiana.
An original letter signed by legendary lawyer and statesman Daniel Webster pertaining to a land grant case he handled in Louisiana is on exhibit at the Great River Road Museum.
A pipe organ that once stood in the vaudeville house where legendary New Orleans jazz trumpeter Louis Armstrong played in his younger years is on exhibit at the Great River Road Museum next to Houmas House & Gardens. The instrument is now a player organ, which produces music at the flip of a switch. Staff video by Robin Miller
Opera patrons listen from a box off stage, upper left, as a pipe organ that once stood in the vaudeville house where legendary New Orleans trumpeter Louis Armstrong performed in his younger days fills the hall with music at the Great River Road Museum.
A lone parishioner sits in a pew in the church-opera house setting at the Great River Road Museum.
The Phantom of the Opera stands near the pipes of the pipe organ in the church-opera house setting at the Great River Road Museum. The Phantom once was among the wax figures at New Orleans' Musee Conti Wax Museum. Those figures now enhance exhibits at the Great River Road Museum.
An ornate offering envelope holder on the back of a pew in the Great River Road's church-opera house setting. The pews were purchased from the church that purchased the pipe organ from the vaudeville house where Louis Armstrong once performed. The organ also is on exhibit at the museum.
A pipe organ that once stood in the vaudeville house where legendary New Orleans trumpeter Louis Armstrong performed in his younger days stands in the Great River Road Museum.
Pedals at the bottom of the pipe organ in the Great River Road Museum.
The Great River Road Museum's exhibits also walks visitors through the area's Civil War history.
The Port Hudson USCT Headquarters Flag is on display in the Great River Road Museum's Civil War exhibit. This flag was used at Port Hudson, designating the Third Division Headquarters of Union Gen. Cyrus Hamlin.
Musical instruments used by troops during the Civil War in Louisiana. These are on display at the Great River Road Museum.
The Great River Road Museum's dining room exhibit eventually will include a Louisiana food exhibit designed by Chef John Folse.
The Great River Road Museum's Mardi Gras exhibit pays homage to the Duke and Duchess of Windsor (right), Edward and his bride Wallis Simpson, for whom he abdicated the throne. The royal couple attended the Rex Ball in 1950, where they bowed to the King of Rex, which was unusual, because British royalty doesn't bow to other figures.
The Great River Road Museum's Mardi Gras exhibit pays homage to the Duke and Duchess of Windsor (right), Edward and his bride Wallis Simpson, for whom he abdicated the throne. The exhibit includes these photos of the royal couple's attendance of the Rex Ball in 1950, where they bowed to the King of Rex, which was unusual, because British royalty doesn't bow to other figures.
A King Rex costume in the Great River Road Museum's Mardi Gras exhibit.
Chief Tottie Montana's Mardi Gras Indian costume is included in the Great River Road Museum's Mardi Gras exhibit.
The Great River Road Museum's Mr. Bingle exhibit includes the original marionette puppet operated by a puppeteer in the department store's display window on Canal Street in New Orleans. Mr. Bingle was Maison Blanche's Christmas season mascot. Staff video by Robin Miller
The Great River Road Museum's steamboat exhibit includes artifacts from lavish steamer J.M. White, which once traveled Louisiana by way of the Mississippi River.
This chair once stood in a parlor of lavish steamboat J.M. White, which once traveled Louisiana by way of the Mississippi River. The chair is part of the steamboat exhibit at the Great River Road Museum.
The J.M. White emblem appears at the top of a chair that once stood in a parlor inside the lavish steamboat. The chair is included in the steamboat exhibit in the Great River Road Museum.
This photo shows the table and chairs on display at the Great River Road Museum as they appeared in the steamboat J.M. White. The photo also is included in the museum's steamboat exhibit.
This table once stood in lavish steamboat J.M. White, which traveled Louisiana by way of the Mississippi River. It is included in the Great River Road Museum's steamboat exhibit.
The ornate leg of the table that once stood in a parlor of the lavish steamboat J.M. White. An accompanying chair can be seen in the distance. Both are on display in the Great River Road Museum's steamboat exhibit.
The Great River Road Museum is home to the Douglas A. Diez Smoking Pipe Collection, which includes antique pipes carved from wood, ivory and other materials. Diez began his collection after unearthing two Native American pipes when he was a youngster.
The Great River Road Museum is home to the Douglas A. Diez Smoking Pipe Collection, which includes antique pipes carved from wood, ivory and other materials. Diez began his collection after unearthing two Native American pipes when he was a youngster.
The Great River Road Museum is home to the Douglas A. Diez Smoking Pipe Collection, which includes antique pipes carved from wood, ivory and other materials. Diez began his collection after unearthing two Native American pipes when he was a youngster.
This souvenir pipe from George Washington's presidency is included in the Great River Road Museum's Douglas A. Diez Smoking Pipe Collection, which includes antique pipes carved from wood, ivory and other materials. Diez began his collection after unearthing two Native American pipes when he was a youngster.
The Great River Road Museum explores past burial traditions in this exhibit. This authentic basket casket is where the term 'basket case' originates.
On display in the Great River Road Museum is a prie-dieu that belonged to Father Francis Xavier Seelos, who pastored New Orleans' Church of St. Mary of the Assumption in 1866, where he also is buried. Seelos was beatified by Pope John Paul II on April 9, 2000.
Ionic order forms that once fronted Woodlawn plantation along the Mississippi River are on exhibit at the Great River Road Museum.
A cock-fighting spectator chair, which allowed gentlemen to comfortably sit while propping their arms on the back while watching roosters in battle, features ornate perique tobacco images carved in walnut and stitched on the seat. Perique tobacco is still produced along the river. This chair is on display in the Great River Road Museum.
A cock-fighting spectator chair, which allowed gentlemen to comfortably sit while propping their arms on the back while watching roosters in battle, features ornate perique tobacco images carved in walnut and stitched on the seat. Perique tobacco is still produced along the river. This chair is on display in the Great River Road Museum.
The thread cabinet still has some stock in the Great River Road Museum's exhibit on the former B. Lemann & Bro. Store of Donaldsonville.
Metal letters used by the former B. Lemann & Bro. Store of Donaldsonville to create its own newspaper advertisements are on display at the Great River Road Museum.
A photo of the former B. Lemann & Bro. Store of Donaldsonville is on display in an exhibit dedicated to the store at the Great River Road Museum.
Hats and shoes that once were a part of the stock at the former B. Lemann & Bro. Store of Donaldsonville are on display in the Great River Road Museum's exhibit dedicated to the store.
A Houmas Indian basket is on display in the Great River Road Museum.
The Great River Road Museum takes a look at Louisiana's cotton, sugarcane and tobacco industries while not shying away from history's uglier side of slavery.
Wax figures depict a slave auction in antebellum New Orleans. The Great River Road Museum doesn't shy away from depicting local history's uglier side in its exhibits.
The Great River Road Museum explores the power of Black churches during Reconstruction by converting formerly enslaved men into political activists.
This figure, titled 'Am I Not a Man and a Brother?' was first produced in 1787 and became a popular icon in the British movement for the abolition of the slave trade in the late 18th and 19th centuries. It is on display at the Great River Road Museum.
Gravestones with no inscription once served as markers for the enslaved. Many times, slaves in the antebellum south used unmarked headstones to mark the graves of their loved ones. These headstones are on exhibit in the Great River Road Museum.
Climbing the ramp and taking the elevated walkway to the Mississippi River at the Great River Road Museum next to Houmas House & Gardens in Darrow. Staff video by Robin Miller
A wax figure has just finished working in the fields in the Great River Road Museum's sugarcane exhibit.
Sugar was measured by the barrel, called a 'hogshead.' An authentic hogshead barrel is on display in the Great River Road Museum's sugarcane exhibit.
File photo: Implements used in the sugar-making process are on display in the Great River Road Museum's sugarcane exhibit.
Abraham Lincoln's life mask, circa 1860, is on display in the Great River Road Museum's Civil War exhibit. The mask was made while Lincoln was alive. Such masks popular before photography became prevalant.
A tribute ribbon mourning President Abraham Lincoln's death is on exhibit at the Great River Road Museum.
Brothers Bienville and Iberville greet visitors at the Great River Road Museum's front door.
When Iberville first met the Houmas Indians, one was wearing a blue coat given to him by explorer Henri de Tonti. This scene is depicted in the Great River Road Museum.
Statues standing alongside staircase bannisters appear to light the way of the Mississippi River depicted in a wall-length mural of the waterway originally designed and painted for a local casino. The mural is now displayed in the Great River Road Museum.
A lone parishioner sits in a pew in the church-opera house setting at the Great River Road Museum.
Mark Twain stands in the pilot house overlooking the lobby area of the Great River Road Museum.