Who do you serve?

Friends of the Opelousas Museum serves the people and communities of Opelousas and St. Landry Parish, Louisiana, including residents, families, students, educators, visitors, local businesses, community organizations, and anyone interested in the history and culture of Opelousas and its people. We support the Opelousas Museum and Interpretive Center so that local history and culture can remain accessible and meaningful to the community.

What problem are you addressing in your community?

Local history, culture, and community stories can be overlooked, underfunded, or lost over time. Museums need resources beyond basic operating costs to develop exhibits, educational programs, special events, preservation efforts, and community engagement. Friends of the Opelousas Museum helps address this need by raising funds, recruiting volunteers, building community partnerships, and connecting additional resources with the Opelousas Museum and Interpretive Center.

Where do you operate?

Friends of the Opelousas Museum is based in Opelousas, Louisiana, and primarily serves Opelousas and St. Landry Parish. Our work centers on supporting the Opelousas Museum and Interpretive Center and engaging the residents, businesses, organizations, and visitors who have a connection to the community. Our events, fundraising, partnerships, and outreach may also involve people and organizations throughout Acadiana and beyond.

What do you actually do?

Friends of the Opelousas Museum is a nonprofit support organization that provides fundraising, volunteer, and community-engagement support for the Opelousas Museum and Interpretive Center.

Our work includes:

• Fundraising: We raise money to support museum exhibits, programs, educational opportunities, special events, and other needs that benefit the museum and its visitors.

• Event support: We help organize, promote, and provide resources for special events and fundraising events connected to the museum.

• Community engagement: We connect the museum with local residents, businesses, organizations, artists, educators, and other community partners.

• Volunteer support: We recruit and coordinate community members who want to contribute their time, skills, and talents to support the museum.

• Sponsorship and partnerships: We seek support from businesses, foundations, individuals, and community organizations and help build partnerships that benefit the museum.

• Public outreach: We share information about the museum, its programs, local history, and opportunities for community involvement through our website, social media, newsletters, and other communications.

• History and cultural engagement: We help create opportunities for people to learn about, experience, celebrate, and share the history and culture of Opelousas and its people.

Friends does not operate the Opelousas Museum. The Friends organization is an independent nonprofit that provides additional fundraising, volunteer, and community support for the museum.

What makes your approach distinct?

Friends of the Opelousas Museum focuses specifically on connecting community support with the Opelousas Museum and Interpretive Center. We bring together fundraising, volunteering, business partnerships, and community engagement around one shared purpose: helping the museum connect people with the history, culture, and stories of Opelousas.

Our approach is community-centered. We believe local history is something people experience, discuss, celebrate, teach, share, and carry forward. That means our work extends beyond fundraising to building relationships between the museum and the people, businesses, organizations, educators, artists, and community members who make Opelousas what it is.

Friends is also an independent nonprofit organization separate from the City of Opelousas and the museum itself. This allows community members and private supporters to contribute additional resources and participate directly in supporting the museum's programs, exhibits, events, and community engagement.

How can I contact Friends of the Opelousas Museum, Inc.?

Address: 100 W. Bellevue St., Opelousas, LA

Email: friendsofopelosuasmuseum@gmail.com

Where is the Opelousas Museum & Interpretive Center?

Physical address: 315 N Main St, Opelousas, LA  

Hours: M-F: 8AM to 4:30PM & 1st and 3rd Saturdays: 10AM to 2PM

Mailing address: P.O. Box 1879, Opelousas, LA 70571 

Email: Museum@CityofOpelousas.com

Phone: 337-948-2589

opelousasmuseum.com