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Location of the Museum - The Maritime Museum sits on the banks of the Tchefuncte River in Madisonville, Louisiana about three miles before this historic stream flows into Lake Pontchartrain. Its attractive, modern main building has available over twelve thousand square feet of interior exhibit space plus a four thousand covered exterior area that houses the Museum's wooden boat building activities. The Museum also includes the Tchefuncte River Lighthouse Station (built in 1837) at the mouth of the river, the 1880s era lighthouse keeper's cottage, which has recently been moved to the Museum grounds for renovation and a modern concrete dock on the river. The site is located about four miles, or a 10-minute drive, from Exit 57 on Interstate 12.
Mission of the Museum - The mission of the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Maritime Museum is to “bring Louisiana 's unique maritime history to life.” While most Americans are familiar with the historical significance of the city of New Orleans, the Mississippi River and the Louisiana Purchase, most local residents and visitors alike know little about the role that Lake Pontchartrain and the other rivers, marshes and bayous of southeastern Louisiana played in our country's development. Yet, for most of recorded history, these watery routes, and not the lower reaches of the mighty Mississippi River were the “front door” providing access from the Gulf of Mexico to the vast, rich interior of North America . First, Native Americans, then the great European colonial powers, fought for control of these waterways. Naval battles were fought during the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, and the Civil War. A local culture unlike any other developed to exploit the treasures of our wetlands, and special craft were designed and built to traverse the generally shallow waters of the region. This boat building tradition has continued for over three centuries – from pirogues, luggers, schooners and steamboats, to submarines and ironclads for the Civil War, to 300' long wooden cargo ships for WWI, to the fabled Higgins boats of WWII, to the cutting-edge military ships that are being built at local shipyards today. All of this makes for an incredibly interesting story, one which when the telling is complete, will make our museum one of the premier maritime museums in the country.
History of the Museum – In the late 1980s, a local group of amateur “brown water” archaeologists made an extensive series of dives in the Tchefuncte River near Madisonville and discovered new evidence of the long, rich maritime history of this area. The depth and breadth of the story that these dives brought to light sparked interest in creating an organization that would do more extensive research, build facilities, and develop exhibits and other resources to make this rich maritime history more readily available to the public. Thus was created the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Maritime Museum and Research Center, Inc. Initial efforts were funded by proceeds from the annual Madisonville Wooden Boat Festival and contributions from individuals and foundations. In 1998, a $2.5 million grant was received from the state for construction of the first phase of the Museum building complex. In late 2002, the Museum's first exhibits were opened to the public, and new exhibits have been added regularly since that time.
Maritime HistoryExhibits - In planning our exhibits, we adhere to the philosophy that we are an “interpretive” rather than a “jewelry box” museum – in other words, we try to “bring history to life” and make it more entertaining and memorable through a mix of significant artifacts and engaging storytelling that utilizes short films, models and dioramas, graphics, and lighting and sound effects. We ultimately plan to comprehensively tell the entire Louisiana maritime history story, from the Native Americans of the precolonial period to current times. Our current exhibits, which occupy about 4000 square feet, roughly cover the period between the mid-1800s and WWI. These, like all planned future exhibits, are carefully researched and professionally built to the standards of any fine Museum. Our films, which are made specifically for us, have won several national and international awards, including EMMYs after being broadcast on local and statewide public television. The total history story will occupy about 20000 square feet, filling our existing building and a planned new addition.
Lighthouses – Having been entrusted with the stewardship of the Tchefuncte River Lighthouse Station, the Museum has a special interest in the role that these gracious symbols of a past romantic era have played in maritime history. Thirty or more lighthouses have speckled Lake Pontchartrain and nearby gulf coastal waters over the past 200 years. Sadly, most have been replaced by more modern navigational aids and have disappeared or fallen into disrepair. The Museum plans extensive exhibits to preserve the storied history of lighthouses, particularly the ones in this region. The Tchefuncte River Light, itself, is in relatively good condition, though relatively inaccessible. Long-range plans include improving accessibility, restoring the entire light station – the light tower, the keeper's cottage, and outbuildings - to the site's turn-of-the-last-century condition, and amassing a collection of lighthouse models, artifacts, and other memorabilia that is second to none. The keeper's cottage, which had been sold to private individuals and moved from the station site in the 1950s, was recently given to the Museum and moved to our main complex, where it is being restored. Our almost completed one-of-a-kind collection of models of 25 historic local area lighthouses is a national treasure.
Wooden Boat Building – To help preserve the centuries old wooden boat building tradition of Louisiana , the Museum offers classes that allow interested skippers - mostly novices with no experience - to build their own wooden boats, under the supervision of a master boat builder. Over 75 boats, from pirogues to 20-foot lake skiffs, have been started since we began offering these relatively inexpensive 12-week courses three years ago, and we have a waiting list of future classes. The Museum also holds its annual tribute to these graceful vessels – old and new - when it hosts the annual Madisonville Wooden Boat Festival each October. Scores of classic wooden boats, hundreds of other watercraft, and thirty thousand or more visitors attend this extremely popular event each year.
Maritime Research – In association with Southeastern Louisiana University , Tulane University , the St. Tammany Parish School System, and others with an interest in history, maritime-related sciences, and education, the Museum is actively pursuing the research mission that initially inspired its founders. This has included historical research, the collection of maritime-related oral histories, the development of small underwater robots to both investigate local waters and inspire local students to pursue this fascinating scientific field, a collaborative program for college students related to museum management and exhibit construction, and participation in outreach programs to make the extremely interesting, but little known, history of this area more readily accessible to residents and visitors alike.
Organization of the Museum – The land and buildings of the Museum are officially owned by the Town of Madisonville, Louisiana and are managed under a long-term agreement by The Lake Pontchartrain Basin Maritime Museum and Research Center, Inc. This is a 501c3 organization (Federal Identification Number 72-1200018) run by a volunteer board elected by the general membership of the Museum. Membership is open to individuals, companies, and other organizations at very reasonable rates. A three-person staff currently manages day-to-day operations of the Museum with the assistance of a large, dedicated volunteer force.
Jay Blossman, President
John Williams, Vice President
Bill Kingsmill, Secretary
John Ammerman, Treasurer
Trilby Lenfant, Past President
Ed Dillard, At Large
Marty Gould, At Large
Adrienne Laborde
Bob Doolittle
Danny Schaus
Doug Gardner
Dr. John Crain
Jimmy Rogers
Jared Riecke
Joel Champagne
Ken Milstead
Lynn Haase
Marlene Sobkowich
Morton Davis
Sandra Terrell
Brett Oubre
Lora Haddox
Rene Faucheaux
George Tallant
Dave Stefferud
Jerry Shopf
Mark Badeaux