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The National Hansen's Disease Museum

Virtual Tour

In 1992, the Carville Center was officially entered in the National Register of Historic Places as "Carville Historic District, Carville, Iberville Parish".

 

Indian Camp Plantation, back door, detail

Awning over back door of Indian Camp Plantation House.

The Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, a Roman Catholic order of nuns, lived in the "Sisters' House" - a modified Colonial revival structure.

Daughters of Charity House
Activities House behind Indian Camp Plantation

Over the years, this tiny "house" behind the plantation served as a recreation room for the Sisters. The Daughters of Charity taught the Carville staff's children catechism here in the 1920's-30's. Later it was used as a greenhouse.

Two Civil War era cannons still "guard" the front of the plantation.

Civil War cannon, one of two 'guarding' the plantation
House 14, detail of cornucopia scroll

Detail of cornucopia scroll, House 14.

PHS residence, built in the eary 1920's in the common Colonial revival style. "Federal Architecture" was the style of the wooden staff housing built at Carville.

PHS staff residence, built early 1920's
Medical Officer in Charge quarters, first built in early 1920's

The original Medical Officer in Charge's quarters, built in the early 1920's.

Residence of the Director, Federal architecture in the Colonial revival style.

Medical Officer in Charge's quarters, (2nd)
Infirmary, Building 37, built in early 1930's

The Infirmary, built in the Federal Style, is typical of the architecture of the early 1930's.

The Infirmary, detail of decorative garlands and swags in concrete relief.

Infirmary, Building 37, detail
PHS Hospital sign on avenue of oaks, leading to Infirmary

PHS Hospital sign at the head of an avenue of live oaks leading to the Infirmary, Building 37.

There are over two miles of covered walkways connecting patient residential houses, hospital offices, the Infirmary, chapels and the Recreation Center providing ease of movement and accessibility to patients.

Walkway detail between houses 20 & 21
House 29 seen through the live oaks

View of House 29 seen through the live oaks.

The old softball bleachers. The "Point Clair Indians" (the patients' softball team), played in the local River League, winning the championship pennant in 1951.

Old softball bleachers

Recreation Center

Patients' Recreation Center was modeled after Indian Camp Plantation. It has Corinthian columns and cast iron grillwork.

View of House 25 from the second floor covered walkway. Patients' 9-hole golf course can be seen in the distance.

House 25 from 2nd story walkway
Ambulatory window, detail

Detail of window, 2nd floor walkway, near the Recreation Center, with a view of House 25.

Sign for THE STAR, the patient produced magazine with the mission of "Radiating the Light of Truth on Hansen's Disease", was until recently located in House 27. Stanley Stein was the founder and editor from 1941-1967.

Sign for The STAR magazine offices & press, Building 27
Quonset hut near patients' golf course

Quonset hut near the patients' golf course. The huts provided euipment storage area as well as changing rooms for golfers.

Interior view of ambulatory between Union and Sacred Heart Chapels.

Ambulatory interior
Sacred Heart Chapel

Romanesque details grace the entrance to the Sacred Heart (Catholic) Chapel. This Catholic chapel was dedicated on June 8, 1934, Feast of the Sacred Heart, by His Excellency John W. Shaw, Archbishop of New Orleans. Constructed with a gift of $35,000 by the Catholic Church Extension Society under the Presidency of Bishop William D. O'Brien, D.D.

South door to the Sacred Heart Chapel built in the Gothic revival style.

Sacred Heart Chapel, south door
Sacred Heart Chapel roof seen over walkway

The roof of the Sacred Heart Chapel floats over the covered walkway.

Detail of the Union Chapel windows. The first Protestant Chapel was erected in 1915 with $2,000 donated by the people of the State of Louisiana. This sum included furnishings. The first chapel was used until 1923-24 when the new and present Union Protestant Chapel was built by Algernon Blair Company from donated funds from Protestant missions.

Union Chapel windows, detail
Union Chapel, detail

The present Union Chapel was constructed in 1924 of masonry and wood (6,395 square feet). Details of ornate leaded amber windows, fine wookwork and wainscoting rounded out the Mission revival style with some neo-Gothic features.

The Union Chapel steeple and bell towers. In 1974 Schulmerich Carillonic bells were added in memory of Dr. Guy Faget, a gift from Stella J. Roman.

Union Chapel, steeple
Carville patients' cemetery

Patients' cemetery in pecan grove. Originally the patients' graveyard was closer to the River Road. When the Federal government purchased the property in 1921 the cemetery was relocated "under the pecans" to allow for the expanding facility.

 
Photographs, E. Schexnyder, 2002

 

The museum is open to the public, free of charge.

 Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.

 Tele:  (225) 642-1950

 Email Elizabeth Schexnyder, Curator

CLOSED FEDERAL HOLIDAYS

Note: Due to the changing levels of National Security observed by the Louisiana Army National Guard gatehouse, it is advisable to call in advance to verify museum accessibility.


About the Museum
 

Collecting, preserving and interpreting the medical and cultural artifacts of the Carville Historic District and promoting the understanding, identification and treatment of Hansen's disease (leprosy).

Commemorating those who lived at the National Leprosarium as patients, as well as the health care professionals who made medical history as they battled Hansen's disease (leprosy).

Virtual Tours

Carville Historic District

National Hansen's Disease Museum Exhibits

Life at Carville: The National Leprosarium circa 1950

 

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