LPBMM

The museum will be reopening Tuesday, September 4th, after being closed due to the effects of Hurricane Isaac. Unfortunately, much of the town of Madisonville was flooded by the storm, including the Tchefuncte Light Keeper’s Cottage and the Boat Building Workshop located on the museum’s property. We wish our neighbors in Madisonville a speedy recovery in the aftermath of this storm. The Light Keeper’s Cottage interior took on water and damages will have to be further assessed. The full condition of the Tchefuncte River Lighthouse is not known at this time.

Thanks to a tremendous clean-up effort on Sunday, September 2nd by museum volunteers, boat builders, family, friends and staff, the museum is on the road to recovery. We appreciate the continued support! Don’t forget to come out for the Wooden Boat Festival on October 13th & 14th and have a great time while supporting the Museum and the town we all love!

Due to impending tropical storm Isaac, the Maritime Museum will be closed Tuesday, August 28 and Wednesday, August 29. To all of our friends be safe, “batten down the hatches,” and we will see you soon.

The Lake Pontchartrain Sail & Power Sqaudron will be conducting a one day Boating Safety Course September 15, 2012 from 8:00am-5:00pm at the Maritime Museum. Below is information about the course from the Sail & Power Sqaudron.

LOUISIANA LAW HAS CHANGED!

 Persons born after Jan. 1, 1984 may not operate a motorboat or PWC powered by a motor in excess of 10 HP unless they have successfully completed a boating safety course. 

Learn About:

Introduction to Boating; Federal and State Boating Laws; Personal Safety Equipment; Safe Boat Handling; Navigation; Boating Problems; Trailering, Storing, and Protecting Your Boat; Hunting and Fishing, Water Skiing, and River Boating; Personal Water Craft (PWC) and much, much more.

 This very popular course exceeds all State and Federal educational requirements.  Instruction is FREE, but there is a $ 25 charge for course material.  Passing the course will qualify participants for boat insurance discounts with many insurance providers.  Contact your insurance agent for what discounts they offer.

 For information or registration call:

Nick Chronis – 985 674 2687 or

Peggy Roy – 985 264 7467

Despite a rainy start on August 11th, the Lousiana Wildfowl Carvers & Collectors Guild Decoy show was a success with many carvers attending from all over south Louisiana. Examples of flounder, crabs, humming birds and of course ducks graced the Maritime Museum and all guests were treated to a demonstration of carving.

On Saturday, August 11th, the Maritime Museum will host the third annual, Louisiana Wildfowl Carvers & Collectors Guild (LWCCG)  Decoy Show and Sale. The LWCCG will have decoys on display and will present demonstrations in carving and finishing.  Several decoys will also be for sale.

The LWCCG is a non-profit organization dedicated not only to the tradition of decoy carving, which is part of the culture of Southern Louisiana, but also preservation of Louisiana wetlands. Decoy    carving is one of the first truly American art forms & Louisiana has always been at the heart of this tradition.  The LWCCG, now 40 years old, was the second organization in the country dedicated to this art form.  There are more world champions and master decoy carvers from Louisiana than any other state. Local carver, John  Scallan, is the 2012 world champion in the life-size, pair floating, waterfowl carving competition. Mr. Scallan will be showing his work at the Decoy Show and Sale.

Both the LWCCG decoys and the boats built in the Maritime Museum’s traditional boat building class are works of art as well as   functional history of our past. The Maritime Museum will provide demonstrations of boat building and a unique video documentary on the disappearing Cajun art of pirogue-making. There will be concessions for sale and a raffle for a nautical bag filled with “Experiences of The Museum.” Regular Museum admission prices will apply.