River Road African American Museum

"Drove over an hour to see it. Closed. Says tours are appt only and you need a mask (paranoia). Front door was unlocked, went inside, totally bare like it had been ransacked. Nobody was there. Promptly left. Should have looked and seen the last review was from 5 months ago. Shouldn’t assume places are open just because they say they’re open online."

"It was our first stop on our Southern Civil Rights Trip and I was filled with eager anticipation to learn! As soon as we got off the bus, Elaine welcomed us and she had on the most beautiful dress! She floated over to the first building we would sit in and showed us to our seats. We were then greeted by Darryl Hambrick, one of the founders of this museum. I was amazed when he held up a picture of Martin Luther King and pointed to his dad nearby in the photograph! Already, I felt there was a special connection to history and stories he could share with us. The River Road African American Museum is filled with so many interesting and historical items to learn from and look at!! Darryl was so gracious in explaining many things and answering any questions we had. He explained and has us think about the mental health of both the enslaver and the enslaved. He brought understanding to the long standing phrase "keep out of my kitchen" and how it deals with the matter of life and death and not just losing a job. He also told us stories about how enslavers would use their enslaved as guinea pigs for medical operations. It was awful and yet a part of history that needed to be shared. Donaldsonville was the place where the first successful c-section was performed. One of the items that caught my eye were a pair of shackles framed in a box. I have always read and watched movies about the enslaved being bound up by these horrid items but I have never seen them in person. I almost felt it was irreverent to stare at the shackles but also to not even acknowledge that they existed. We learned so much at this museum that we felt even though it was day 1, we could go home full with new knowledge! Nearby the museum, there are other parts to tour, such as the Church of the Ascension (beautiful building with lots of history), the school with a special garden, and a very historical Julien sugarcane planting machine. Our visit to Donaldsonville was rich with experiences we will not forget and stories that were so special and touching. There is a lot of pain that occurred here and in history that needs to be addressed and this is a good place to start learning."

"This museum was so nice, and our Ambassador was so passionate! We learned alot and are thankful to be able to keep history in front of our children and ourselves."

"Unique museum in Donaldsonville honoring African-American history in Louisiana including slavery. The current exhibition on the slaves sold by Georgetown University into slavery in Louisiana is very interesting and thought-provoking. The museum staff is very knowledgeable and extremely enthusiastic. Definitely worth the 1 hour trip from New Orleans."