Longfellow - Evangeline State Historic Site
Rate this placeLast Updated: December 5, 2025
The Longfellow-Evangeline State Historic Site is located in St.
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Summary
Martinville, Louisiana, and is a popular tourist destination. The site is named after the famous poet, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, who wrote the epic poem "Evangeline" about the Acadian expulsion from Nova Scotia in 1755.
Visitors can explore the Acadian Cultural Center, which provides a glimpse into the lives of the Acadian people and their culture. The site also includes the Maison Olivier, a Creole-style house that dates back to the early 19th century, and the Father Megret House, which was built in the late 1700s.
Some of the specific points of interest at the site include the Evangeline Oak, an ancient oak tree that is believed to be over 300 years old, and the Acadian Memorial, a bronze statue that pays tribute to the Acadian people.
Interesting facts about the site include that it was once the site of the St. Martin de Tours Church, which was destroyed by a hurricane in the 1800s. The church was later rebuilt and is now a part of the historic site.
The best time of year to visit the Longfellow-Evangeline State Historic Site is in the spring or fall when temperatures are mild, and the weather is pleasant for outdoor activities. Visitors can also enjoy the Cajun and Creole festivals that take place in the area during these seasons.
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Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
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