The Louisiana Music Museum is coming soon to downtown Lafayette at 121 W. Vermilion Street, including a renovation and new major addition to the historic former Lafayette Hardware Store, originally built in 1890.
Photo taken late 2021
A $10 Million project, the Louisiana Music Museum will include the restored 1890s Lafayette Hardware Store building a new modern addition at the rear on Buchanan Street, permanent exhibitions about Louisiana’s music heritage, and event and performance spaces. The project is in the middle of its capital campaign, as described on the Acadiana Center for the Arts’ website: https://acadianacenterforthearts.org/louisiana-music-museum/
The project features a new plaza and accessible glass-fronted entryway that gives visitors a glimpse inside from Buchanan street. The outdoor plaza will feature an open-air stage for live performances and festival engagement, along with an art wall mural reflecting the building’s historic facade and sculptures honoring Louisiana music legends.
Renderings sourced: https://acadianacenterforthearts.org/louisiana-music-museum/
“In order to preserve the historical integrity of the 1890s building, the new construction three-story, 10,000-square-foot space will accommodate entry, circulation, and major building systems like HVAC without cutting up the beautiful old building,” says AcA Executive Director Samuel Oliver.
A pair of restored double French doors from the original building, marking the formal transition into the museum’s main galleries. The four main galleries cover the full spectrum of Louisiana’s music, highlighting—French, Cajun, Creole, blues, jazz, funk, and other genres that define the state’s cultural identity. The second floor has a temporary exhibit gallery to further explore Louisiana music stories. The gallery opens to a dance hall style venue for live performances, community dances, and private events.
The design team is led by Moliere Chappuis Architects of Lafayette and Thomaz Regatos Design with support from Felt Design, a design firm known for creating interactive museum experiences like the Bob Dylan Center. Visitors can expect rotating exhibits, educational programming, jam sessions, public lectures, and hands-on displays.
Jane Vidrine, a Grammy-nominated musician, folklorist, and educator, the museum’s first director, is working with exhibition designers, architects, and content experts to develop museum plans. She brings decades of cultural experience and leadership.
According to Acadiana Center for the Arts Executive Director Samuel Oliver, “The Louisiana Music Museum will be a nationally significant cultural destination that draws visitors from around the world as well as those close at home. We are creating a new home for the stories of Louisiana’s musical past and present—a gift to future generations.”
The project is part of a $10 million capital campaign launched recently. Early support came from Lafayette Consolidated Government and the Lafayette Public Trust Financing Authority. Project partners include UL Lafayette’s Center for Louisiana Studies, Lafayette Travel, and other community organizations. An economic analysis estimates more than 200,000 visitors annually, supporting over 230 jobs and generating nearly $1 million in tax revenue each year.
The museum is expected to open in 2027. It will not only offer a visitor experience but also serve as a community space with regular programming, school tours, and cultural events.
For more information or to get involved, visit https://acadianacenterforthearts.org or https://acadianacenterforthearts.org/louisiana-music-museum/
For more information & images, visit: https://acadianacenterforthearts.org/louisiana-music-museum/
