Donaldsonville Downtown Development District

Serving as the capital of Louisiana from 1829 to 1831 and the state’s second-largest Historic District in the National Register, the city of Donaldsonville has a rich and storied past. Located where Bayou Lafourche originally met the Mississippi River, the city was a major port for the growing state. These days, Donaldsonville retains its old-world charm with a downtown area lined with buildings from the 1800s.

One of the more interesting pieces of architecture is the Ascension of Our Lord Catholic Church, just a block from the Main Street district. If you look carefully, you’ll note a difference in the brick color about halfway up. This is because construction halted due to an ownership dispute between the Church’s Board of Wardens and the Archbishop of New Orleans. The building was completed in 1896 and has held services ever since. Located across from Louisiana Square where the state’s capitol building stood from 1830-1831, the Ascension Parish Courthouse in Donaldsonville — a gorgeous Romanesque Revival building — has operated since 1889.

Immerse yourself in the history and culture of rural African Americans in Louisiana at the River Road African American Museum. Exhibits include how the Underground Railroad operated in Louisiana, African influences on well-known Louisiana dishes and the rural roots of Jazz. If you’re looking for something a little more active, the museum offers a History on Wheels bicycle tour of the area! After strolling (or biking!) around the town, stop in for award-winning South Louisiana cuisine at the Grapevine Café or feast on brisket and pulled port at Gaston’s BBQ & Beer.