Louisiana Political History Museum
Written: Dec 08 '00 (Updated Dec 08 '00)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Educational, Comprehensive display of Louisiana Political Culture
Cons: small for such an undertaking, underfunded
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| petsnpeople's Full Review: Louisiana |
The Louisiana Political History Museum located at 499 East Main Street, Winnfield, Louisiana, is considered on the state's hidden treasures. The museum, itself, is housed in an abandoned Louisiana and Arkansas Railroad Depot and Warehouse which was relocated to the Main Street site.
The upper level of the has large displays for Huey P. Long and Earl K. Long with impressive life-size replicas of each man and memorabilia from their campaigns and state offices. There are other portraits and memoribilia from a number of other Louisiana political notables, especially those in the Louisiana Political Hall of Fame.
The museum upper level often also displays local resources and industrial history artifacts, such as impressive petrified wood and lumber industry history. That area right now is devoted to large stuffed boars, native to the area wood and of special interest to annual Hawg-Dawg Festival fans.
The Museum's entry and lower level has changing local displays. Current displays are memorabilia from Milam's Department Store, a longtime local merchant, the Winnfield First Federal Savings and Loan, one of the first S & L's to go out of business, the Winnfield Hotel, an historic landmark lost several years ago to age and weathering processes. There is also general railroad memorabilia and a display of historic pharmaceutical items provided by local pharmacist, James Emerson, owner of New Winnfield Drug Company. A Civil War display offers information about the Sons of Confederate Veterans and the local education sorority, Delta Kappa Gamma Society, has donated a display of its history and activities promoting education in Winn Parish.
The museum shares office space with the Winn Parish Chamber of Commerce and information is readily available about area businesses and Louisiana attractions of all kinds.
This year's Louisiana Political History Museum's Christmas theme is "An Old Fashioned Christmas." The museum upper floor features several displays of old fashioned and home made ornaments, an aluminum tree from the sixties, antique Barbie items, traditional Christmas gifts and creche.
The museum gift shop is a Louisiana history buff's dream. There are commemorative Christmas ornaments featuring drawings of historic landmarks, a wide variety of videos, cookbooks, books on historic architecture and people, throws, mugs, posters, bags and sweatshirts. A Christmas feature is a board game called "Louisiana: The Political Game." The museum is also right now having a sale on posters from the centennial celebration of the late Governor Jimmie Davis's birthday.
Each January the museum hosts a banquet during which five persons are inducted into the Louisiana Political Hall of Fame. Inductees include:
1999
Jimmy Fitzmorris, Lieutenant Governor
Iris Kelso, Journalist
"Cat" Doucet, Sheriff
Ed Renwick, Professor
1998
Speedy O. Long, U.S. Congressman and Senator, District Attorney
Joe D.Waggoner, U.S. Congressman
John Overton. U.S. Congressman and Senator
T. Harry Williams, Professor and Pulitzer Prize Winner for his biography "Huey Long"
1997
Murphy J. Foster, Governor and Senator, Grandfather of current governor, Mike Foster
Dave Treen, First Republican Governor since Reconstruction
Melinda Schwegman, First Woman Lieutenant Governor
J. Bennett Johnston, Louisiana Legislature and U.S. Senate, reponsible for navigation improvements to open Red River to Shreveport
O. K. Allen, Governor
1996
Mary Evelyn Parker, State Treasurer
Leander Perez, Attorney and Judge
Louis Berry, Civil Rights Attorney
Gus Weill, "Father of Louisian Political Public Relations"
James Carville, Writer and Political Strategist
1995
Zachary Taylor, U.S. President
Sam Hanna, Publisher and Columnist
Edward Douglas White, U. S. Supreme Court Chief Justice
Cammille F. Gravel, Attorney, leader in the National Democratic Party
Delesseps S. Morrison, New Orleans Mayor and U. S. Ambassador to Organization of American States
1994
Gillis Long, U. S. Congressman
Allen J. Ellender, Louisiana House floor leader under Governor Huey Long and U. S. Senator
Victor Bussie, President Louisiana AFL-CIO, member U. S. Federal Reserve Board
Lindy Boggs, U. S. Congresswoman
A. Leonard Allen, U. S. Congressman
1993
William C. C. Claiborne, First Governor after La. Purchase
Hale Boggs, U. S. Congressman and House Whip
Jimmie Davie, Governor, Singer/Songwriter, Film Star
P. A. "Pap" Dean, Cartoonist
Huey Long, Governor, U. S. Senator
B. B. "Sixty" Rayburn, Louisiana Legislator
Dudley LeBlanc, Louisiana Legislator, Manufacturer of Hadacol
John McKeithen, Governor
Edwin Edwards, Governor
Dutch Morial, First Black Mayor of New Orleans
Earl Long, Governor, elected to U. S. House, brother of Huey Long
Russell Long, U. S. Senator, son of Huey Long
The Louisiana Political History Museum is managed by Carolyn Phillips with assistant manager Angela Bonnette. Hours are Tuesday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Call (318) 628-5928 for more information or to arrange for a class or group tour. There are no entrance fees, but donations to the museum's "deduct box*" located at the door are welcome!
Why Winnfield is home to the Louisiana Political History Museum
Three governors were born in what is now the city limits of Winnfield. These three men more than any others of the twentieth century helped Louisiana recover from the devastation caused by the Civil War and began extraordinary improvements in public works, education and a Civil Rights agenda.
The work of Governor Huey Long as a United States Senator brought national attention to the need for a income security program and his popularity forced the Roosevelt administration to propose and get adopted the Social Security Act which is now part of U.S. culture.
Governor Huey Long and his associates affected Louisiana and United States history more than any other individuals from Louisiana. It is fitting that their home town house the Louisiana Political History Museum. It may be off the beaten path, but perhaps more of us should take some time to get out of the rat race occasionally and reflect on our values and history.
Winnfield, Home of Three Governors
Huey Pierce Long
Born: August 30, 1893 in Winnfield, Louisiana
Political Affiliation: Democrat
Religious Affiliation: Baptist
Education: Attended Winnfield public schools, University of Oklahoma and Tulane University
Career Prior to Term: Lawyer and Chairman of the Louisiana Railroad Commission
How He Became Governor: Elected in 1928
Career after Term: U. S. Senator
Died: September 10, 1935 two days after being mortally wounded by an assassin in Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Earl Kemp Long
Born: August 26, 1895 near Winnfield, Louisiana
Political Affiliation: Democrat
Religious Affiliation: Baptist
Education: Attended Loyola University
Career Prior to Term: Lieutenant Governor
How He Became Governor: Succeeded Leche in 1939; elected in 1948 and 1956.
Career after Term: Cattleman/farmer; died days after being elected to U.S. Congress.
Died: September 5, 1960
Oscar Kelly Allen
Born: August 8, 1882 near Winnfield, Louisiana
Political Affiliation: Democrat
Religious Affiliation: Baptist
Education: Springfield Normal and Business College (Missouri)
Career Prior to Term: State Senator and Chairman of the Louisiana Highway Commission
How He Became Governor: Elected in 1932
Career after Term: Died in office.
Died: January 28, 1936 in Baton Rouge, Lousiana of a cerebral hemmorrhage
*Deduct box was the term used for the box which contained a rather large sum of money collected by the Longites from deductions from state employee salaries.
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