Drive down the River Road and you'll pass plenty of grand plantation houses. In Donaldsonville, one museum asks visitors to look at the region through the eyes of the people whose labor, leadership and culture built it.

The River Road African American Museum opened in March 1994 with a clear mission: to collect, preserve and interpret the art, artifacts and historic buildings that tell the story of African Americans in the rural communities of South Louisiana. More than 30 years later, it is open to visitors again.

Back on Charles Street

Storm damage and renovations kept the museum at 406 Charles Street closed for two years. In March 2026, RRAAM marked its 32nd anniversary by reopening the campus with a community celebration that included a school band-led second line through the neighborhood.

More than one building

The museum describes itself as a cultural campus of living history, with historic sites spread through Donaldsonville's historic district, including a Rosenwald School. The exhibits go well beyond enslavement. Expect stories of Reconstruction-era political leadership, education, medicine, entrepreneurship and the cultural innovators who shaped the River Parishes.

That focus is the point. Many sites in plantation country center on architecture and the families who owned the land. RRAAM puts the spotlight on the Black residents whose stories were too often left out.

Plan your visit

Hours: Wednesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Tours: Guided and self-guided options are available for families, individual visitors, schools, churches and groups.

Contact: Call 225-257-1234 for current admission details, or email [email protected] to set up a group tour.

The museum also hosts community programs and rents its spaces for events, so check its website and newsroom for upcoming dates.

Pair a visit with lunch in Donaldsonville and a slow drive along the river. For families looking for a meaningful weekend outing, this is a stop worth making.

Photo courtesy of River Road African American Museum.