National Historic Landmark

Maison Olivier (Acadian House)

St. Martinville, St. Martin County, Louisiana
Listed
March 29, 1973
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
73002133

About this property

Longfellow-Evangeline State Historic Site (French: Site historique d'État Longfellow-Evangeline), located in St. Martinville, Louisiana, showcases the cultural significance of the Bayou Teche region. It is the oldest state park site in Louisiana, founded in 1934 as the Longfellow-Evangeline State Commemorative Area. Evangeline was Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's enormously popular 1847 epic poem about Acadian lovers, who are now figures in local history. In the town center, the Evangeline Oak is the legendary meeting place of the two lovers, Evangeline and Gabriel. A statue of Evangeline marks her supposed grave next to St. Martin of Tours Church. The state historic site commemorates the broader historical setting of the poem in the Acadian and Creole culture of this region of Louisiana. Maison Olivier, designated a National Historic Landmark (as Acadian House) in 1974, is a plantation home built c. 1815 by Pierre Olivier Duclozel de Vezin, a wealthy Creole at the time. The structure is an excellent example of a Raised Creole Cottage, a simple and distinctive architectural form which shows a mixture of Creole, Caribbean, and French influences. Maison Olivier is located behind the visitor center. Also near Maison Olivier is a blacksmith shop. There is also a c. 1790 Acadian cabin, which reveals the contrast between Acadian and Creole architecture. A reproduction Acadian farmstead lies near Bayou Teche. It is representative of a single-family farm in the early 19th century. It includes a family home, a barn, a privy, an outdoor kitchen, and a bread oven.

Location

1200 N. Main St., within Longfellow Evangeline State Park
St. Martinville, St. Martin County, Louisiana
30.13842, -91.82376

Categories

ARCHITECTURE
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Nearby Historic Sites

Burdin House
Industrial
0.7 mi
Bonin House
Early Republic
0.8 mi
Soulier House
Industrial
0.8 mi
Fontenette--Bienvenu House
Industrial
1 mi
St. Martinville Historic District
Listed
1 mi

Nearby Battles

Bayou Teche Expedition 1863
1863Civil War
3.3 mi
Battle of Bayou Teche — naval action
1863Civil War
3.6 mi
Teche Campaign – Loreauville Skirmish
1863Civil War
8 mi

Questions about this property

When was Maison Olivier (Acadian House) listed on the National Register?

Maison Olivier (Acadian House) was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 29, 1973.

What type of historic resource is Maison Olivier (Acadian House)?

Maison Olivier (Acadian House) is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

Is Maison Olivier (Acadian House) a National Historic Landmark?

Yes. Maison Olivier (Acadian House) has been designated a National Historic Landmark (NHL), the highest level of federal recognition for historic properties in the United States.

What is the period of significance for Maison Olivier (Acadian House)?

The period of significance for Maison Olivier (Acadian House) is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Maison Olivier (Acadian House)?

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