Spring Events at Terrebonne Parish Library

Butterfly release, Louisiana Orphan Train History and More

2 hours ago

Alyssa Schiaffino,

HOUMA, La – Spring events at Terrebonne Parish Library range from the weekly Downtown Houma Makers Market on Tuesdays at 2:30 p.m. in the parking lot of the main library to the all-day Spring Scavenger Hunt on March 31 at the East Houma location–and so much more in between.

With crafts, chair yoga, family story time, cooking demonstrations, build-a-bunny and more, the Terrebonne Parish Library System has something for everyone, both throughout the year and specifically for this month.

Spring Events at Terrebonne Parish Library

The library system is highlighting two special programs for this month: a butterfly transformation across all locations and the Louisiana Orphan Train history program.

Butterfly Releases: March 18, 21 & 24

The Terrebonne Parish Library System invites the community to witness the transformation of caterpillars to butterflies as part of an engaging, educational program. In early March, all Terrebonne Parish Libraries began housing live caterpillars in nets, allowing visitors to observe the incredible life cycle of a butterfly up close.

This week, on March 11, the South Regional Branch hosted a butterfly naming ceremony and storytime. However, there are still three main events to come:

March 18: South Regional Branch Butterfly Celebration in the Park
- 6 p.m.
March 21: La Mariposa Butterfly Release and Picnic at the Main Library
- 11 a.m.
- Storytime and an outdoor walking parade, where the butterflies that have grown in the library will be released into the community garden. Please pack a lunch, as the fun begins at 11 a.m. This event is free and open to the public.
March 24: North Branch Butterfly Release
- 10:30 a.m.

Louisiana Orphan Train History: March 24

The Terrebonne Parish Library invites the community to learn about a powerful and often overlooked chapter of American history, the Louisiana Orphan Train. For more than 70 years, groups of children were placed on trains in New York and sent to communities across the United States.

In towns such as Opelousas, Breaux Bridge and Lafayette, adults gathered at train depots to receive a child, sometimes as a new member of the family, and other times as an indentured servant. This movement ultimately shaped the lives of more than 200,000 children and their descendants.

One of the train’s stops was Terrebonne Parish’s own Bayou Black, connecting this national story to the local community.

March 24: Louisiana Orphan Train Museum Program at the Terrebonne Parish Main Library
- 5:30 p.m.
- Martha and James of the Louisiana Orphan Train Museum will present a special program, sharing historical insight, personal stories and information about how this migration of children influenced families throughout Louisiana and possibly your own family tree.