Alright guys, it's time to get your metal detectors out! There are a lot of stories out there of hidden treasures in Louisiana---if you know where to look. Check out these nine stories of buried treasure throughout the state.
Around the turn of the 20th-century, Monsieur Richarde was said to have buried his fortune in his garden, which was never fully recovered. He lived between the Cobar Farm and the residence of Riverboat Captain Joseph Boisseau.
The Taensa, indigenous people to Louisiana, supposedly buried their treasures when the Spanish invaded. Their settlement was below Grand Gulf in Vicksburg, on the westbank of the Mississippi River.
De la Claire was a French aristocrat who came to Louisiana in 1748. He built a plantation in the Grand Coteau area around the turn of the 19th century, and his grandson buried his $500,000 fortune there when the Civil War broke out. The home was burned in the war, but the fortune never recovered.
This is another location where the pirate Jean Lafitte reportedly stored some of his treasure—treasure that would be hard to locate after the collapse of a salt mine in this area.
This location unfortunately burned down due to stupidity recently but rumor had it that the pirate Jean Lafitte used the old barn of the plantation to store treasure.
Also a haunted place in Richland Parish, there are rumors that a man named Bullin lived on the road to this farm and dumped his treasure in a well when he heard Federal troops were approaching during the Civil War.
Have you ever visited one of these spots or found anything special when you were digging around our state? Let us know your findings in the comments below and thanks for sharing!
There are plenty of small towns in Louisiana that are worthy of a day trip, but few can compare to the history you’ll find in St. Martinville: an amazing historic town in Louisiana. If you were born and raised in Louisiana, especially if you’ve Acadian roots, make sure to put St. Martinville, Louisiana at the top of your bucket list.
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St. Martinville is a tiny town nestled along the Bayou Teche, just outside of Breaux Bridge and Lafayette.
With a population that hovers around 6,000 people, it’s a charming small town in Louisiana that’s overflowing with history, especially when it comes to some of Louisiana’s earliest settlers, the Acadians.
One of your first stops in St. Martinville should be the Acadian Museum and Memorial.
Here, you'll learn more about the Acadian exile from Nova Scotia and how they eventually ended up in Louisiana. Pictured above are the Coats of Arms of many Acadian families, whose last names you may recognize like Broussard, Comeaux, and Richard.
The Wall of Names lists approximately 3,000 people that were identified as Acadian refugees that ended up in Louisiana.
There's a lot to learn about this part of Louisiana, especially with Acadians/Cajuns. As a *very* brief refresher, the British expelled thousands of Acadians from what is now known as Nova Scotia (as well as surrounding areas) between 1755-1764 after they refused to swear allegiance to the crown. Separated from their families and uprooted from their homes, an estimated 5,000 Acadians tragically lost their lives on the ships they were forced on. Many were deported to the original Thirteen Colonies, and then to Britain and France. Through Spanish ships, many Acadians who were sent to France found a new life in southern Louisiana, where over the years a new culture emerged, Cajun, which was influenced by Native American and African cultures.
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More than half of the Acadian population lost their lives during the exile, with countless others becoming enslaved or imprisoned. This has been called ethnic cleansing by historians, with some even going so far as to call it genocide. In 2003, the British monarchy acknowledged it for the first time ever, and designated July 28 as "A Day of Commemoration of the Great Upheaval."
You'll also find a replica of the Grand-Pré Deportation Cross.
The photo on the left is the replica that's located in the meditation garden behind the museum. The original Grand-Pré Deportation Cross (pictured on the right) is located in Nova Scotia.
Perhaps the most famous site in St. Martinville is the Evangeline Oak.
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow memorialized the explosion in his poem, Evangeline, which was published in 1847. The poem follows an Acadian girl named Evangeline in her quest to find her beloved Gabriel during the Great Upheaval.
Evangeline Oak Park overlooks the beautiful Bayou Teche, making it a great spot to sit for a spell and take it all in.
Founded in 1934, it’s the oldest state park in Louisiana and it has a fascinating history. The picture above is Maison Oliver, a plantation home built in 1815 by wealthy Creole Pierre Olivier Duclozel de Vezin who bought the land to grow cotton, raise cattle, and eventually, sugarcane. The building is a fascinating example of Creole, Caribbean, and French influences.
You can tour the inside of the home and learn more about when the property was used as a plantation.
There are actually several buildings along the property that highlight the cultural diversity and history of the area, including the role that Acadians, Creoles, Native Americans, Slaves, Frenchmen, and Spaniards all played in developing what we now know today as Acadiana.
Whether you're a lifelong resident of Louisiana, or just passing through, St. Martinville is one of the best places to learn more about the culture that has grown to define Louisiana.
Cajun Country is defined by the stalwart Acadians who were determined to thrive in an environment unlike any they had ever seen before, and through their perseverance, we can proudly continue their traditions.
Joie de vivre!
Have you ever been to St. Martinville? Let us know in the comments below. There's so much to appreciate about this historic town in Louisiana. For even more outdoor adventures in this part of Louisiana, gas up the car and take on the 180-mile Creole Nature Trail, highlighted in the article below. (And don't forget to look at our road trip essentials first!)
Louisiana is no stranger to abandoned places. These 12 places throughout the state are as gorgeous as they are spooky! Some of them may not be standing anymore, but most of these abandoned places in Louisiana should jog your memory of when they were still functional.
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As always, we'd like to remind everyone that visiting abandoned places can be dangerous and illegal. Many of these abandoned places in Louisiana are on private property and trespassing is illegal. You wouldn't want to end up in the hospital (or worse, jail) so don't go off exploring these places on your own.
Built in 1854, this Arabi, Louisiana landmark has been abandoned since it was part of the Jai Alai Casino Complex in the 1940s. Sadly, a bunch of intoxicated individuals on a "ghost hunt" burned the place to the ground in 2013, so all that's left is the memory of this abandoned place in Louisiana.
Hiding within the towering pines of the Kisatchie National Forest, this former school has really stood the test of time, which is remarkable considering the school was built by the community itself. This building stopped being the Kisatchie high school in 1962 and has stood abandoned ever since. If you don't know the history behind this former high school, check out our previous article where we look into the history of this largely unknown abandoned place in Louisiana.
This abandoned boat was found in Buras, LA, and sadly it's just one of many you'd see floating down the Mighty Mississippi in this part of abandoned Louisiana.
This abandoned college in Keachi, LA was once home to wounded soldiers during the civil war and now it's one of the creepiest abandoned places in Louisiana.
This legendary abandoned amusement park has been empty since just before Katrina in 2005. If you've ever traveled down I-10 near New Orleans East, you've seen it. Definitely one of the most popular abandoned places in Louisiana.
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Fortunately, there are plans to remove this eyesore once and for all, and build something different. There have been many ideas floating around over the years, including a strip mall and a community park, so hopefully we will see construction begin some day.
If you thought those were hauntingly beautiful, check out these 10 photos of one of the creepiest abandoned places in Louisiana, Charity Hospital.
With any abandoned place, there's bound to be a few ghost stories that come along with it. This haunted road trip through Louisiana will bring you to the front door of some of the most haunted places in the Pelican State. If you're really brave, you may even want to book a night at The Myrtles, one of the most haunted hotels in Louisiana. Sweet dreams!
