WELCOME TO THE WEBSITE OF CHARENTON HERITAGE MUSEUM.
CHARENTON HERITAGE MUSEUM was formally opened February 21, 2002. The museum has several components. One of the components features a book written by Fr. Bill Crumley csc.
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN FATHER BILL'S NEW BOOK: IT IS ENTITLED "SURROGATE WARS: A REAL LOOK AT WARS"
The book gives some insight into why 911 happened. It looks at what really causes wars, who profits from war, who pushes war. The titles of the various chapter give a good description of the book. Copies of the book may be ordered in printed form or as an electronic book through the publisher Authorhouse. Electronic books sell for $3.95. Printed books sell for $13. You may order through the author or you may order through the publisher.
To purchse through the author send us an email at bill_crumley@hotmail.com or call us at 337-923-4281.
To purchase through AuthorHouse simply press www.authorhouse.com/BookStore/searchcatalog.aspx When the website appears under "title" enter "Surrogate Wars"
To see more on the book press SURROGATE WARS
an outdoor museum which walks past Jud Hall, Immaculate Conception Church, and then through the cemetery of the church. It tells the story of the Bayou Teche, our church and its pastors, a bit of civil war history, bits of the history of the Chitimacha Indians, some of the history of the Sisters of St. Joseph while they were in Charenton as well as some of the local families of our community.
Inside the church itself is a history of the all the popes who have led the Catholic Church. The history also contains data on a few of the events and people who have impacted the Catholic Church over the years. For an overview, press PAPAL HISTORY
The third part of our museum is housed in Jud Hall. It contains data on our local history. We often receive new material from local residents. It is truly a community museum. A special part of the museum is an economic history of the area and the world for the last 400 years. It deals with the economic story of the Native Americans losing the land and leads to a warning of how we also can lose the land. For more on this economic history, press ECONOMIC HIST.
Inside Jud Hall there is also an exhibit which looks at some of the history and the culture which surrounds the Bayou Teche
TECHE There is also a display on Indian Life in the area
Indian history
We have added several parts to our outdoor museum. First, a series of 25 flags which tell the story of Charenton and its people. For a picture of the flags and a summary of that story, press FLAGS
We have also added several more features to our outdoor museum. One is a five foot by five foot map of the Atchafalaya Basin. The map highlights known settlements of the Chitimacha Indians in the Basin. It also shows many of the sites visited by Father Gobeil in his ministry in the Basin. There were 18 different sites he went to say mass, baptize, and minister in other ways. The map also shows places we know where there are Indian mounds. Finally, fourteen other churches have been formed out of the territory once served by our church. For more on this display, press BASIN
A second addition is a three foot by eight foot map of the Bayou Teche which shows all the major villages along the Bayou Teche. To see a picture of the map, press TECHE
To get some background material on the Bayou Teche, press TECHE
PRESS
We are also developing a press. The press will print the texts of many of our displays. We will also assist in any way possible with the publication of an extensive genealogy of the Chitimacha tribe put together by one of our members.
The museum is constantly changing and adding new material. In order to make our museum more accessible to people most of our displays are outdoors. They can be seen at any time. This part of the museum is always open. The tour is self guided. You can come at any time. The papal history exhibit is in the church. That is open during most daylight hours. It also is self guided.
The Indian history, the economic history, a more detailed look at the Bayou Teche, and a general history of Charenton are located in Jud Hall across the street from Immaculate Conception Church in Charenton.
To arrange a visit call:
Bill Crumley 337-923-4281 OR Whitney Vilcan 337-023-4649 OR
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