Zachary Historic Village
Subject: History, Science/Nature
4524 Virginia St. (PO Box 1144)
Zachary, LA 70791
(225) 654-1912 | General Information
(225) 654-1912 | Reservations
(225) 654-1916 | Fax
What you need to know!
General Public Hours: Monday – Friday, 9:00am – 4:00pm; $2.00 donation per person
School Tour Hours and Admission Rates: Tuesday – Friday, 9:15am – 1:30pm; $2.00 per person
- Student to Chaperone Ratio Requested: 10:1
- Advance Time Needed to Make Reservations: Two weeks
- Number of Students per Visit: Up to 125
- Suggested Length of Time for Visit: Three hours
- Handicapped Accessible: PreK – 12th
- Lunch Facilities: There is a covered picnic area on-site.
- Gift Shop: No
- Bus parking available
Tell Us About It!
Zachary Historic Village is a park made up of a dozen buildings situated along several historic blocks in Zachary. It offers kids hands-on activities in a variety of disciplines. This museum is one of the few places in south Louisiana that has an extensive exhibit about Native Americans featuring housing, hunting, farming, and cultural artifacts. The Nature Trail is next to the Native American Area for students to find stage artifacts, plants, and small animals. The Rural Life House exhibit includes furnished 19th century homes that students can tour, and in some houses students can do hands-on activities. The 100-year old school house has been transformed into a science museum designed for young learners to try experiments. The Farm is set up for visitors to try old time chores like pumping water from a well and scrubbing clothes on a washboard.
What Can We See and Do There?
Teachers can plan on visiting all the exhibits at Zachary Historic Village or choose to focus on either science or history. Docents lead students on guided tours. The Native American area has a Palmetto House and a crop garden green with Native American vegetables. There, students see how to make a dug-out canoe and use a cooking pouch made of animal skin. The collection of Native American artifacts includes a ceremonial drum, peace pipe, tools, and traditional clothing. Tours of the Rural Life House allows kids to see the range of lifestyles in Louisiana 150 years ago. The Victorian McHugh House shows how a city merchant lived; the Allison Farm House shows how a rural family lived; the Sharecropper Cabin is a three room Shotgun house. In the Barn, students can try to shuck, shell, and grind corn to make grits and cornmeal. The Schoolhouse features science experiments, and the Natural Trial gets kids to look closely for specific plants and animals. A recently renovated Depot, circa 1885, highlights the history of Louisiana railroads and early kinds of communication, as well as military history.
How Do We Get There?
Traveling north on Hwy. 19 turn left on Hwy. 64 in Zachary. Travel two blocks and turn left on Florida St. Traveling south on U.S.61 turn left on Hwy. 64 and travel five miles to Florida St. and turn right.
Bad Weather! Now What Do We Do?
Teachers should call to confirm rainy day plans.
Louisiana State Educational Benchmarks and Standards
- K-4th grades: H-1A-E1-3; H-1B-E1-2; H-1C-E1-4;
- 5th-8th grades: H-1A-M1-3, 5; H-1B-M1-3, 5, 9; H-1C-M1-2; H-1D-M1-, 3-4, 6;
- 9th-12th grades: H-1A-H1-6; H-1B-H6-7; H-1B-H17-18
What Can We Do In Class Before Our Field Trip?
If students are studying Louisiana’s Native American history, call the museum for its activity packet. It includes crafts and cultural information for students to try in class. Ask students to plan a house, complete with modern conveniences. Can students identify those features that may not have been available to Louisianans 100 years ago?
S-T-R-E-T-C-H Out Your Field Trip Benefits
Studying Louisiana history? Draw a timeline on the chalkboard and let students write in the dates and events they learned on this field trip. Can your students find out when public electric power first came to their hometown? Students can make a classroom exhibit of objects found in nature that Native Americans traditionally used to make utensils and musical instruments two centuries ago. Students can plant a classroom garden with Native American foods such as corn, beans, and squash.
INSTRUCTIONAL CONCEPTS
Native American history, Louisiana history, farming, domestic technology, scientific method skills, architecture, transportation, Louisiana flora and fauna
