Carville, LA - National Hansen's Disease Museum

For years, we have been studying with interest some of the history of Hansen's disease (formerly known as leprosy) in this country.  In 1896, Louisiana established the Louisiana Leper Home on the site of the Indian Camp Plantation in what is now known as Carville, Louisiana, as recorded in the History of the National Hansen's Disease (Leprosy) Program. 

On February 25, 2012, we visited the National Hansen's Disease Museum in Carville.  Since the site is now a Louisiana National Guard facility, photography is not permitted, but an excellent photo essay with some history is available - Carville's Leprosarium, A Place of Hope and Sorrow - thanks to Coleen  Perriloux Landry.  My photos are from outside the facility.

View from the levee

The museum tour was most interesting.  Preceding the tour, Simeon "Mr. Pete" Peterson, a patient and resident at the facility for almost 60 years, shared stories of his life at Carville.  Mr. Pete is one of the last 6 residents at the facility.  He told very interesting stories including how some of the patients would sneak under the fence to cross the road and go over the levee to swim in the Mississippi River.


where they would sneak under fence

Ferry landing on the river

We have read some very special books about life at Carville and we highly recommend reading them.  A recent book by Neil White is "In the Sanctuary of Outcasts".   Two very moving books were written by Betty Martin who was diagnosed with Hansen's Disease in 1929 at age 19, and then spent many years at Carville.

• "Miracle at Carville" - An autobiography published in 1950.  It is out of print, but we found a copy at the Avoyelles Parish Library in Marksville, LA.
• "No One Must Ever Know" - A sequel published in 1959 (recommend reading only after reading "Miracle at Carville"

Carville is a rather remote town, but we found a place to get a good smoked turkey sandwich.