national hansen's disease museum

We were reminded of Carville by a poet in New Orleans Gina Ferara who recently published a book of poems about what it would have been like to live there and that is what made us drive up. We avoided the I-10 and took the state highway up there, about 2 hours from New Orleans.The day before we went we watched a free documentary online from 1998. There are also recent ones by PBS available at the library. I suggest doing this, so that you're immersed in the background before you go.Upon arriving you check in at the gate, as it is now an active National Guard base. You can then park and visit the museum. When we arrived at the museum, we were offered a 5 minute introductory video on the history that is also informative. You could literally spend hours in the museum reading over various offerings and looking at all the objects in there. It is a great site for history buffs and most helpful if you already have a background in the history of Carville.After we toured the museum we did the driving tour with a cd and map that you return at the end. While you can't get out and look at the buildings, you can get out at the cemetery and take pictures. Also, at least two of the books written by patients are now out of print and available at the museum. They also have more recently published books and documentaries available for purchase.At the end of the day we took river rd. all the way back to new orleans, which is about 2.5 hours if you do the entire river.

While a bit off the main paths through Louisiana, this trip to one of the oxbows of the lower Mississippi River is well worth it. The best time to go is on the fourth Saturday when visitors will be able to participate in a tour led by the museum's Curator. On other open days, Tuesday through Saturday, visitors have the opportunity to see the museum and do a driving tour. The driving tour is excellent and a good consolation since visitors may not tour the grounds alone. Give yourself a couple of hours to spend in the museum as there is much reading to be done. Videos are available both for viewing and purchase as well as ample printed materials for taking along and studying later. The driving tour takes about 20 minutes. While this museum is interesting, it is most suitable for middle and high school students and adults. Also, a must for this visit is to peruse the museum's web site which will offer a perspective on what one will see and experience.

I learned about Carville many years ago in my junior high Louisiana History class and always wanted to see it. I called in a reservation for the last Saturday of the month so we could watch the movie and take the walking tour. It was an excellent documentary by PBS that really highlighted the personal history of the patients and caregivers in addition to the medical side. I was not prepared for how beautiful and large the grounds would be. It is an entire little world unto itself with it's own power plant, movie theater, churches, etc. The museum was well curated and very informative. It helped tell the story of everyday life a Carville in addition to the history of Hansen's disease. The curator of the museum was very knowledge and even helped other visitors find pictures of their father who had worked their many years ago. I would definitely recommend a visit. Did I mention there is no charge to visit?

Tucked away on the backloads of Louisiana near the Mississippi river is this wonderful museum. You'll learn all about leprosy (Hansen's disease) and what the wrongfully imprisoned patents life was like. You'll find out about their community and life from 1894 until today. Interesting there are still 5 people here, who choose to stay when the facility closed. The museum is on a military base, but access is easy.

I remembered in grade school reading "Miracle at Carville". Now in my 50's to finally visit and tour the facility was so much more than was ever expected. It was like taking a step back in time. To be able to learn not only about the history of but also about the people, the individual stories of some of the people who stayed there gives a whole new perspective on how different life was for them. If you can, plan your visit on the last Saturday of the month. They have a two hour tour that includes an hour long movie and a walking tour of some of the grounds. You need to call ahead and I would advise arriving earlier to have time for visiting the museum.

The museum gives us a peek into the daily living arrangements & history of the patients from the 1800's to the present time. Also, patient authored books, pictures, memorabilia, medical equipment, films and a very knowledgeable curator make this place a must-visit-rare-gem-piece of history! I bring out-of-state family members here; all, incl. the kids have enjoyed it!

Quarantined for Life (or most of it) was the pronouncement for those who had Leprosy. Sent to Carville, Americas only Leprosarium, patients esentially dropped off the face of the earth because it was so isolated that few could ever visit thier relatives. A complete town developed within the fences of the Hospital. Still in a complete backwater by the Mississippi River, Carville is meticoulsy preserved and is beautiful. There is a gem of a museum that explains the cause and treatment of Leprosy (now Hanson's Disease). the history of the facility, the patients and the eveloution of the facility. Thanks to the discovery of a cure at Carville people with Hansen's disease no longer must be quarantined but can live with out-patient treatment. The curator is very helpful and knowledgeable and conducts tours, call 225-642-1950 to find the times. Admission is free. The Hospital is now a LA National Guard facility and you must show I.D. to enter. It is checked, so if you are on the terrorist watch list-don't go.

This area is now managed by the LA Military so you are required to show identification to the guards in order to enter the grounds.The museum itself, is very small and housed in the original dining area. The curator answered many questions we had about the establishment and the buildings located on the grounds. We took the self guided driving tour which is narrated through your phone. It gave the history of the original plantation, hospital, the infirmary, jail and cemetery. The museum displays items used in the research of the disease as well as items used for the help to those afflicted. Pictures and stories of the patients and staff are displayed. You are also able to view how a patient's room was furnished in the 40's. We were even able to meet one of the six remaining residents and listen to his own stories about his life of 85 years! Very informative and worthwhile.

Very informative museum on a topic we were previously pretty ignorant about. The museum curator gives tours, that we arrived too late for. She answered a number of our questions informally. Next time we will plan to get there for the tour.

Beautiful grounds. Stately oaks. A quite place to learn about a well kept secret. A nice museum. My 12 year old was bored to tears but the adults enjoyed the history.

The National Hansen's Disease Museum is a little know museum about a misunderstood disease. It is well worth the 50 minute drive from NOLA to experience this place that was home to thousands of lepers from 1884 until 1999. When it "closed", the remaining patients were allowed to stay because many had spent their entire adult lives within its confines. Patients were sent there upon diagnosis, and since there was no cure, lived out the remainder of their lives there. A large and stark cemetary is witness to that fact. It is a hautingly beautiful place that tells a tale that is both instructive and cautionary about public health measures.

Check this facinating Hansen's(Leprosary) museum and grounds. The history of the disease and quarantine era will put tears in your eyes both from horror and joy. Very few visitors so you have the curators full attention, a well produced 30-minute film and a driving tour. Hard to find but WELL WORTH IT!

The National Hansen's Disease Museum serves to spotlight the history of a place that housed people that were afflicted with Hansen's Disease (better known as Leprosy) dating back to the late 1800s to early 2000s. The operations there have scaled back considerably to where only a handful of former patients and temporary patients are at the institution at this time. Fascinating museum that includes an absolute wealth of information on the medical advances for Hansen's Disease and focusing on the human experience. They have a host of comprehensive videos as well as a guided walking tour and a self driving tour. The host walking tour is HIGHLY recommended as you get to access places not available without the guide, such as the infirmary building and one of the churches on site. (They are given only on the last Saturday of the month and reservations are required.) The museum also enlists the assistance of a lively former patient to give visitors a very vivid account of someone who lived in the Leprosarium during it's busiest existance. The museum is now inside of a military installation but there is a museum banner which let's you know you have arrived. Because it is located inside an active military installation, you cannot take pictures except in the cemetery but you can purchase a booklet of the 100th anniversary of the museum that has great information. (Please note, they have a variety of books for purchase but they only accept personal checks not cash or credit cards.) I cannot stress the invaluable lesson you take away once you've visited this museum!!

I had seen this museum mentioned (on the New Orleans Tripadvisor forum) and knew generally that it tells the story of leprosy in the United States. I was not sure whether I had time to find it and stop - I knew it was near the Gonzales LA exit on I-10 between New Orleans and Baton Rouge. So I stopped at the Gonzales tourism office and they had never heard of it. So I googled and called the museum and the lady at the museum seemed particularly interested in letting me know that "Mr. Pete" was there that day. It was only a short drive from the interstate to the "end of the road" by the levee, in the middle of nowhere. My first view was an old plantation house, then an army gate. The land is some sort of National Guard facility and the museum and related treatment center is on the property. So you have to give an id to the guard who directs you to the museum. Once inside and introduced to Mr. Pete, a small friendly man originally from the Virgin Islands I believe, and looking at his gnarled hands and blotchy skin, I realize that he has been afflicted with the dread disease. In fact he is still a patient and has lived there for over 60 years. Being led through the museum by Mr. Pete was a very memorable experienced. He told about being treated as an "inmate" and how they used to sneak out through holes in the fence to just get away. There are many social and medical lessons to be learned from this very moving museum and from the endearing Mr. Pete. By all means if this sounds at all interesting, go now! Go while Mr. Pete is there and call before you go to confirm his hours.

Seven residents remain in this strange but cool place now occupied by the military. Spending the afternoon with Mr. Pete, 83, who has lived with Hansen's disease since he was 5, was the highlight of my Louisiana vacation. For people who like to see behind the curtain of history, this is your location. At times forcibly housing up to 500 people from all over the world, this is history that you won't be able to see forever. Go now while it lasts! Be sure to call and see when Mr. Pete is working. Ask to see the rarely used chapel and you'll get to experience the amazing covered walkways. Google "Pete BBC leprosy colony" to read up on Mr. Pete. There are also several great New York Times articles about the history of the Carville center.