The Creole House was built in 1898 by Alexander Lambert and his son Harris
Lambert for his daughter Louisa, who was married to Alexander Decareaux. The
house was purchased by the Village of French Settlement and used as the Town
Hall until the new Town hall was built. In 1977, the French Settlement
Historical Society took over maintaining the house and it was turned into a
museum. The house is made out of cypress and is typical of the dwellings built
in the area in the late 1800's by the Creoles. Most of the houses at that time
were built out of cypress because it was so plentiful in the surrounding swamps.
There are many items and antiques from the period displayed in the house.
Included in the collection is a wedding dress from the period, a large armoire,
a vintage radio, sewing machine, and many photos. Also, there are genealogy
charts documenting the history of the local people. Outside the home is a Tool
Shed of the period and Brignac's Slaughter House. The Creole House was placed on
the National Register of Historic Places on May 14, 1992.
The home represents the culture and customs of the people of French, Spanish and
German origin that have lived in the area since at least 1810. The museum is
open the 2nd Sunday from 1 - 4 p.m., October through March. It is open every
Sunday 1 - 4 p.m., April through September. There is no fee to tour the museum
and appointments are made for special occasions and group tours by calling Mrs.
Mercy Lobell at 698-9886. It is located on Highway 16 behind the French
Settlement Municipal Building.
