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State Capital Gallery | Lemann Store Gallery | Corner Grocery Store Gallery | Theater Gallery | 1900s Gallery/Streets of Donaldsonville Gallery | Civil War Gallery | Founders Wall Gallery | Historic Transportation Gallery |
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| State Capital Gallery |
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| Donaldsonville’s tenure as the capital of Louisiana was brief and stormy and fizzled out after only two legislative sessions had convened here, disappearing forever into history as the once-proud capital building was demolished and carried away, a vanished memory of a brief but glorious period in the long history of the community. The Legislature met for the first time in Donaldsonville on January 4, 1830 in spite of the bitter opposition to moving the State Capital from New Orleans. New Orleans was then one of the nation’s most populous cities and offered accommodations, entertainment and attractions totally unavailable in the tiny Town of Donaldson. The Legislature met again in Donaldsonville in January of 1831 for the second and final time. No trace of the old capital building remains. The piles of bricks, which made it up, were carted away to the bayou and dumped into the mouth on the Donaldsonville side to provide a measure of protection against flooding. The gallery houses pictures and artifacts of the era when Donaldsonville was the State Capital of Louisiana 1830-1831. |
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| Lemann Store Gallery |
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| The B. Lemann & Bro. Building was built in 1877 to house the mercantile business started by Jacob Lemann in 1836. The building was designed be New Orleans architect James Freret, and represents the Italianate style, a popular Victorian revival style reflecting the Italian Renaissance. The ornate two-and-one-half story stuccoes brick structure overlooks the Mississippi River and contains almost sixty thousand square feet. A colonnade of fluted cast iron columns supports a gallery continuing along three facades of the building, covering the entire sidewalk. Once the oldest continuing department store in Louisiana, it has been described as “the finest Italianate commercial building in any river town north of New Orleans.” The store offered groceries, both retail and wholesale, men’s clothing, shoes, hats and lingerie for women, piece goods, notions and hardware. At Christmas time, the second floor became a Toyland. The gallery houses original artifacts which includes display cases, office furniture, and items overstocked and not sold from 1877-1940 . |
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| Corner Grocery Store Gallery |
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| Just about every neighborhood at the turn of the century had a corner grocery store. Counters were laden with such Southern delicacies as pickled boiled eggs and pig’s feet. Large barrels containing flour, corn meal, coffee, and sugar were strategically placed around the store. Shelves, hung from floor to ceiling, held everything a family might need… from fabrics and threads for making clothes to seeds for planting and medicines for ailments. Most stores also bought from their customers. Many families sold eggs, produce and home canned jellies to make extra money. Since the corner grocery was also a meeting place in the neighborhood, most ladies shopped daily for their needs and visited with their friends and neighbor’s along the way! In the Donaldsonville area, Italian families owned most neighborhood stores. The Sagonas, Giambrones, Sotiles, Matassas, Bellinas, Pizzolatos and Mistrettas, to name a few, were all grocers. Each had their own way of serving the neighborhood families. |
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| Theater Gallery |
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| The Grand Theater was an important part of Donaldsonville’s commercial, cultural, and social history for it was a center of pleasurable entertainment for the community and the outlying trade area since its opening as the Gondran Theater in 1906. Going to the Grand was a social occasion in which all age groups mingled. During the Great Depression, the Grand Theater offered hard-pressed citizens the opportunity to forget their troubles. During the decades after World War II and up until its closure at the end of 1982, the Grand Theater was a part of the ongoing history of Donaldsonville. Come in, sit down, relax and enjoy the flavor of the area. |
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| 1900s Gallery/Streets of Donaldsonville Gallery |
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| Every small town has its own melting pot…ours might be more appropriately called a gumbo…and nowhere is it better seen than in the commercial life of the town. Ours includes the early Acadian, French and Spanish settlers, the later German, Irish and Italian immigrants, the heritage of the Black and Jewish cultures, with the added spice of the Lebanese. Stroll down “The Avenue” and savor the collection of memories of Historic Donaldsonville. |
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| Civil War Gallery |
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| The Civil War gallery features artifacts associated with Union General Benjamin F. Butler, General Tom Greene, and Adm. David G. Farragut. Also featured are maps and a replica of Fort Butler designed and built by Jim Looney. It offers 19th Century illustrations depicting the battle of Chancellorsville, the assault on Port Hudson, and a scene of action on the Mississippi River at Donaldsonville. Many artifacts from the war are also featured. These artifacts include, but are not limited to, coins, buttons, bullets, weapons, china, metals, and tools. |
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| Founders Wall Gallery |
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| Installation July 2000. Made possible by a grant from Union Pacific Foundation (Railroad). Donaldsonville is the third to oldest incorporated city in the Louisiana Purchase and was at one time the most significant center of trade in Louisiana outside of New Orleans. The city of Donaldsonville began when William Donaldson envisioned building a city along the Mississippi River north of New Orleans. In 1806, he selected Barthelemy Lafon to prepare a street plan on the south side of Bayou Lafourche for “La Ville de Donaldson”. In the year 2003, the country will celebrate 200 years since the Louisiana Purchase. In the year 2006, the city of Donaldsonville will celebrate its 200th birthday. The museum, with help from Union Pacific Foundation (Railroad), created this exhibit in preparation for these two upcoming events. The following historic figures will be included on the wall: LaSalle-claimed land for France and named it Louisiana Iberville-French explorer Bienville-first governor of Louisiana territory Father St. Cosme-killed by Chetimaches Indians in 1706 King Charles III of Spain-ordered creation of the parish of Ascension Father Reuillagodos-founded parish of Ascension in 1772 Pierre and Marguerite Landry-acquired land grant, which is present site of Donaldsonville Joseph L’andry-Acadian and first American commandant justice of the peace William Donaldson-Founder of Donaldsonville Barthelemy Lafon-designed street plan for Donaldsonville Jean Lafitte-legendary pirate Marius Bringier-largest sugar plantation owner in area Numa Augustin-organized Cannoneers Andrew Guidry-first mayor of Donaldsonville Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul-founded St. Vincent’s Institute Fr. Francis Cueppens-began construction of Ascension Church Fr. Jean Honore Dubernaud-completed church and interred in crypt under church Dr. Francois Prevost-performed second successful “C” section in country Gov. Henry Johnson-governor when state voted to move capital to Donaldsonville Maj. Victor Maurin-prominent figure…tomb of Confederate soldier Gov. Francois T. Nicholls-governor and served on Louisiana Supreme Court Gen. Benjamin Butler-Fort Butler namesake Adm. David Farragut-bombed and burned Donaldsonville during the Civil War Maj. Tom Green-led attack on Fort Butler Pierre Landry-first black mayor Linden E. Bentley-started Donaldsonville Chief, oldest business in Donaldsonville James Ferret-architect who designed court house and Lemann Building . |
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| Historic Transportation Gallery |
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| Currently under construction… this exhibit will be housed in a separate portion of the Lemann Building. This gallery located across the street from the Historic Crescent Park, will open July 3rd, 2000. Currently the Historic Transportation Gallery consists of: 1800 Banner Buggy and a life-size paper mache horse with full leather accessories. The buggy and horse are original to the B. Lemann & Bros. family. 1925 Model T 1927 Fire Truck 1927 Cypress Boat 1927 Day Coach |
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