Louis Arceneaux House

The Louis Arceneaux House served as the main building of a large cattle ranch near Carencro, Louisiana, known as “Beau Bassin”. It was owned by Louis Arceneaux, whose father was Louis Perrault (Pierre) Arseneault (Arceneaux), born in 1731 at Point Beausejour in Beaubassin, Acadie, Nova Scotia. The house is a French Creole style dwelling developed by early French settlers for interior comfort amid the hot and humid climate. It was built using colombage and bousillage wall construction, with fireplaces located on exterior walls. Early French Creole homes were originally built in the same manner as farm houses in France and Nova Scotia. However, in the Gulf Coast region, cold nights often turn into warm days, and as is the case with the Louis Arceneaux House, fireplaces were placed on exterior walls so heat could escape more rapidly as the sub-tropical sun warmed the house. This later adaptation of French Creole architecture became widespread as Acadian settlers came to understand the Gulf Coast climate. In 1988, the Louis Arceneaux House was donated and moved to Vermilionville Historic Village by Louis Arceneaux’s descendant, Dr. Thomas Arceneaux. The house has not been changed since its construction over 180 years ago.