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Louisiana site added to the Great River Road network of museums

BATON ROUGE, La. – Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser and the Louisiana Office of Tourism today announced the Louisiana Great River Road Museum and Interpretive Center on the grounds of Houmas House Estate and Gardens is the newest member of the Great River Road Network of Museums and Interpretive Centers. The 35,000-square-foot museum is a state-of-the-art, $15 million facility chronicling the history and telling life stories along the lower Mississippi River from Baton Rouge through New Orleans to the mouth of the river.

To date, there are more than 75 centers in the Great River Road Network interpreting the stories of the Mississippi River. These centers reside along the 10-state stretch of the river and include museums, parks, aquariums, and nature centers along with historic and prehistoric sites.

“It’s an honor to have one of Louisiana’s newest museums added to this distinguished list. Houmas House and the Louisiana Great River Road Museum are wonderful attractions drawing visitors from around the nation and across the world,” said Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser. “It’s an impressive place and I believe this distinction will only help increase tourism numbers to the River Parishes via bus tour groups, as well as riverboat cruises offered by Viking Cruises and American Cruise Lines.”

“Our museum and interpretive center explores exclusively the influence of the lower Mississippi River. We highlight the history, and chronicle the people and families who helped build Louisiana’s most lucrative corridor while creating the unique culture that is Louisiana,” said Kevin Kelly, Houmas House Estate and Gardens owner. “Tours of the museum can be guided or self-guided. There is also a Mississippi River Overlook with a bridge over the Louisiana Great River Road to the Mississippi River levee for wondrous views of the great bend in the river.”

The Mississippi River Parkway Commission (MRPC) and Mississippi River Country (MRC) oversee the Great River Road Network of Museums and Interpretive Centers and work collaboratively to promote travel to the Mississippi River, Great River Road National Scenic Byway, and the surrounding ten states: Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana.

Find more information at www.ExperienceMississippiRiver.com.