The National Hansen's Disease Museum

The National Hansen Disease Museum's mission:

The Museum has two main purposes. One is to promote the understanding, identification, and treatment of Hansen's Disease (leprosy). The other is to collect, preserve, and interpret the medical and cultural artifacts of the National Leprosarium in Carville, Louisiana. This helps people understand the history of leprosy in the United States and commemorate those who lived and worked at the leprosarium.

Museum Exhibits:

• 100 Years of Carville History Timeline
• U.S. Public Health Service
• Recreation of a Patient's Room, circa 1940's
• Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul
• Stanley Stein & The Star Magazine
• Medical Adaptations & Treatment
• Frequently Asked Questions about Hansen's Disease (Leprosy)
• Photography and Site History of Carville
• Patients' Stories & Patient Advocacy
• Carville Culture: Organizations, Activities & Entertainment
• Federal Civil Service Employees
• HD Ready Reference
• X-Rays: Bones Changes in Leprosy

Photographs:

Images created by amateur and professional photographers, medical personnel and the Daughters of Charity. Subjects include:

• The hospital grounds and buildings
• Patients' recreation and organizations
• Holidays / Religious services
• Veterans organizations
• Daughters of Charity
• Public Health Service
• Patients' housing
• Medical treatment

Collections:

Other collections at the Museum include:

• Slide shows of more than 17,000 images
• Videos about Carville and the history of leprosy in the U.S.
• Cultural artifacts
• Medical artifacts
• Publications
• Daughters of Charity Archives

Visiting the Museum:

The National Hansen's Disease Museum is located in Building 12 of the Carville Historic District, 5445 Point Clair Road. In 1992, the National Park Service placed the Carville Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places. It's located behind the old Indian Camp Plantation Home, which now houses the administrative offices for the National Guard Youth Challenge and Job Challenge Programs.

The Museum is open to the public, free of charge, Tuesdays through Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Closed Federal holidays. Group tours are available but must be arranged in advance.

Directions to the Museum

For more information:

Phone: (225) 642-1950

Web site: The National Hansen's Disease Museum