This 1,500 lb. steel statue displays Amédé Ardoin, legendary musician who laid the foundation for zydeco and Cajun music as we know it today, standing atop his most prized possession, his accordion. In his right hand, he holds out a bronze lemon that references Ardoin’s practice of carrying the sour fruit in his pocket to soothe his singing voice. The statue was carved by Russell Whiting, a self-taught, award-winning artist in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana. He began his career making small wooden figurines, which has evolved into the special technique that he now employs carving steel to form regal figures.

This memorial statue commemorates the Bringing Amédé Home event, a symbolic gesture that brought over 500 music fans, locals, and Ardoin family members to see Amédé home from his burial in an unmarked grave at the Central Louisiana Hospital. You can read more about the event in our blog Bringing Amédé Home – About the Amédé Ardoin Commemorative.

The statue is located in the Zydeco Capital of the World, Opelousas, Louisiana right outside the St. Landry Parish Visitor Information Center.

Ici on parle français. French is spoken here.

With Opelousas being the birthplace of zydeco, this mural, Robert Baxter’s Zydeco Capital of the World, remembers the pioneers and award winners of that unique and inspiring genre of music.

Located on the north side of Opelousas City Hall, built in the late 1930s and originally Abdalla’s Furniture Store, this mural is right in the middle of downtown.

Fiddle Mania, located in downtown Opelousas and at the St. Landry Parish Visitor’s Center, features over-sized fiddles fabricated from metal, painted and designed by local artists. It was unveiled in November 2012 in conjunction with the state office of tourism’s Main to Main initiative.

The overall theme of the fiddle designs encompasses Louisiana’s rich heritage depicting wildlife and waterways, its diverse people, food, music and well-known locales. The Fiddle Mania exhibit is dedicated in memory of local musician/fiddler and cultural ambassador Hadley J. Castille.

Artists involved in the project include June Lowrey, Jerome Ford, Kat Guidroz, Kimberly Nelams Becnal, Alicia Johnson, Gary Steckler, Shawn Hunt, Natalie Clay Hutchinson, Darlene Moore, Tony Cutrera, Ne’keeta Guillory, Kate Ferry, Deante Benjamin, Theon Guillory, Katy Leger Roy, Westminster Christian Academy Art II Senior Emily Waguespack and Bailey Benoit, Hunter Tardiff and Brianna Jordan of Port Barre Middle School, Davonte’ Lafontaine of Port Barre High and Noah Guidroz of Park Vista Elementary.

The address provided is for the St. Landry Chamber of Commerce where you can park and visit to learn more about businesses within the parish before you make your way to the fiddles. The fiddles are across the street, behind the St. Landry Bank.

The fire mural pays tribute to early firefighting and is dedicated to all firefighters – past, present and future. The mural, Early Fire Fighting: A Tribute to Lelle, was painted by a group of local artists at Opelousas Catholic under the direction of Cindy Pitre. The mural depicts the fire truck named after Marie Celeste “Lelle” Dupre’ Robertson. Along with her husband, she was an active member of the Hope, Hook and Ladder Fire Company Number 1, established in 1871. Miss Lelle has been credited with many of the company’s early successes, but most remember her for her role in helping fight the courthouse fire that occurred during the early years of the 20th century. You can find “Lelle” at the Hope, Hook and Ladder Fire Station in downtown Opelousas.