The ribbon is cut to the history and intrigue of Jean Lafitte and the town named after him; both are captured in the newly unveiled Barataria Museum and Wetland Trace Museum. Photo: Paul Christiansen
by Kim Hilsenbeck/Louisiana Seafood News
Seeped in a deep and rich history of commercial fishing and trapping, the tiny coastal town of Jean Lafitte 20 miles southwest of New Orleans. Photo: Paul Christiansen
Seeped in a deep and rich history of commercial fishing and trapping, the tiny coastal town of Jean Lafitte 20 miles southwest of New Orleans is the very essence of the fabled bayou along the Louisiana coast.
It’s also the town where Privateer Jean Lafitte and his brothers established a port in Barataria Bay in the early 1800s. It was the perfect cover for staying out of the watchful eye of U.S. customs officers in New Orleans. From here, the men could easily smuggle goods to local merchants. During the War of 1812, the brothers joined Andrew Jackson to defend New Orleans and received pardons for their service.
It’s that history and intrigue of the era – and the man Jean Lafitte for whom the town is named – that are captured in the newly unveiled Barataria Museum and Wetland Trace.
History and Intrigue Abound
Today, guests to Jean Lafitte, called Lafitte by the locals, can tour the 6,000-sqaure foot museum dedicated to the history, intrigue and resilience of this small fishing port. Visitors, including the more than 500 who attended on opening day, are treated to exhibits, artifacts and information about the town and the man for whom it’s named.
Guests to Jean Lafitte, called Lafitte by the locals, can tour the 6,000-sqaure foot museum dedicated to the history, intrigue and resilience of this small fishing port. Photo: Paul Christiansen
The Barataria region was originally home to Native Americans. The name “Barataria” first appeared on French maps in 1729 and means dishonesty at sea. Shortly after the founding of New Orleans in 1718, the French explored the area and established Barataria Bay as a harbor for large vessels on the Gulf Coast.
Early Colonists used the cypress and oak trees for ship construction. Plantation owners cultivated the land for sugar and rice. The bayou communities grew in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as residents harvested shrimp, crabs, oysters and fish from the estuaries. Lafitte was – and continues to be – an important supplier of fish and seafood.
Often called a hidden gem, this fishing community is just 30 minutes outside New Orleans, making it the perfect day trip or fishing destination.
Paul Chrisitansen, a consultant working with Mayor Tim Kerner, called Lafitte a real treasure, highlighting its great seafood restaurants, lodging options and reasonably priced fishing charters. He said the new museum is a welcome and worthwhile addition to the town.
Alligators, Shrimp Boats and Tours
Attractions at the museum include a mile and a quarter raised boardwalk nature trail behind the building. Visitors walk alongside an alligators, lizards and egrets among other creatures to a bayou, rookery and marsh area. Shaded by large old Cyprus trees, the marsh is shady and relatively cool, even on a hot summer day
Inside, an 80-seat theater offers a 20-minute video that brings visitors through the history of the area from the legend of the pirate Jean Lafitte to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and through coastal erosion resulting from seven storms in seven years. Through oral histories of local residents, the video captures the resilience and determination of the town and its people.
Attractions at the museum include a mile and a quarter raised boardwalk nature trail behind the building. Visitors walk alongside an alligators, lizards and egrets among other creatures to a bayou, rookery and marsh area, or take a ride on the Lil Cajun. Photo: Paul Christiansen
At the recent ribbon cutting ceremony, Kerner along with Jefferson Parish President John Young spoke about the museum and its significance.
“The exhibits bring to life the importance of community, and why it means so much to live down here in Crown Point, Lafitte and Barataria,” Young said.
Many of the museum’s exhibits come from the former Louisiana Marine Fisheries Museum provided by the Louisiana Secretary of State. Other displays were provided by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries Collection from the original Louisiana State Museum in the French Quarter, as well as the Town of Jean Lafitte’s special historical collection.
The Barataria Museum and Wetland Trace is located at 4917 City Park Dr. in Lafitte.
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