Eunice, La.
NPS Website; Local Website
WHAT IS IT?One of six separate National Park Sites dedicated to preserving the “natural and cultural resources of the Mississippi Delta region”. This Site focuses on the Acadian (or Cajun) peoples’ musical and culinary contributions.
BEAUTY (5/10)
The exterior of the Prairie Acadian Cultural Center is a well-groomed, single story brick building. It rests behind the more impressive Liberty Theatre. The Cultural Center blends in with the rest of downtown Eunice. The Center isn’t separate from the community; it is an integral part of it.
HISTORICAL INTEREST (6/10)
While the museum gives an excellent primer on the life of prairie Acadians, the Center itself is a part of history. The Saturday after Thanksgiving was the first time the Cajun cooking and music celebration has been cancelled in over 14 years. (Two of the musicians were sick.) This Saturday, the show is back, and will most likely be packed.
CROWDS (5/10)
We were the only people at the site. It might have been nice to interact with a few other visitors.
EASE OF USE/ACCESS (3/5)
Eunice is located 18 miles directly north of Interstate 10.
CONCESSIONS/BOOKSTORE (3/5)
Barbie doll-sized Mardi Gras figures, miniature pirogues (Acadian canoes) and small crawfish traps lined the shelves, along with a few books of Cajun and Creole folktales, histories of the Acadians and, of course, cook books.
COSTS (4/5)
The Site is free.
RANGER/GUIDE TO TOURIST RATIO (3/5)
One Ranger. Two of us. She stayed behind the desk and left the interpretation up to the museum and the films we requested. The Center closed while she went on her lunch break.
TOURS/CLASSES (7/10)The Prairie Acadian Museum is excellent. While some exhibits are identical to their counterparts at the Wetlands Acadian CC and the Acadian CC, there is enough variation that trips to all three Museums are not completely repetitive. The Sites’ exhibits were all done by the same curator at the same time and are engaging, fun and informative. After going to Lafayette and Eunice, we were eager to visit the Wetlands Acadian CC in Thibodaux.
The Site provides an extensive list of Cajun-related films. We chose and were enchanted by two 30-minute pieces: one documented the incredible Acadian tradition of catfish hand fishing while the other focused on Cajun cooking. We loudly gasped as seemingly ordinary men dove into murky bayous and emerged carrying 3-foot long catfish. After watching families devour crawfish and jambalaya, we were ready to leave the Site and go to lunch.
Saturday at the Prairie Cultural Center is the place to be. There are afternoon music shows in the auditorium and cooking demonstrations in the kitchen classroom. At 6 o’clock, the party shifts next door to the refurbished 50-year old Liberty Center Theater where the Rendez vous des Cajuns program takes place until 8, where Cajun music is played and stories are told live on the radio.
FUN (7/10)This Site is for real. You are surrounded by the rural culture and lifestyle that it explains. The town’s restaurants serve the food while its radio stations play the music. The cuisine and the music is not a tourist come on. In fact, we are not sure that many tourists come up this way but we were welcomed hospitably even though we were obviously not Acadians.
The Saturday performances must be one heck of a good time.
WOULD WE RECOMMEND? (7/10)
Eunice is the heart of Cajun music. In fact, the Cajun Music Hall of Fame is only a block away. Marc Savoy, famous Louisiana musician, lives, works and plays here. Musicians who frequent his shop and Saturday morning jam sessions perform at the Prairie Acadian Center Saturday evenings. After the musical program, there is a cooking demonstration in the Center’s kitchen auditorium. (Looks just like the ones on TV) Saturday programs are free. All are welcome. Go to the Prairie Acadian Cultural Center on a Saturday.
TOTAL 50/80
www.usa-c2c.com
© 2004-06