Le Vieux Village Historical Park and Museum

Le Vieux Village, located in the city of Opelousas, offers visitors a glimpse into rural life during the conception of St. Landry Parish. The village includes one of the oldest Creole homes west of the Mississippi River, as well as a country store and doctor’s office from the early 19th century. 

The centerpiece of the village is the Venus House, which was originally located in the rural Grand Prairie community west of St. Landry Parish. It is built of bousillage, a mixture of mud, Spanish moss, straw and animal hair, and constructed using mortise and tenon beams. 

The village also includes a tourist information center displaying photos, knives, guns and other memorabilia tied to Jim Bowie, who once lived in Opelousas. Another village offering is the Orphan Train Museum, which is housed inside a restored train depot. The museum tells the story of Orphan Train Riders who came to Louisiana from New York between 1873 and 1929.