New Opelousas Museum Exhibit Showcases the Life of the Local

OPELOUSAS, La (press release) – The Opelousas Museum will open the “Where We Live: Opelousas Neighborhoods” exhibit on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, from 1 – 3 p.m.

The exhibit showcases photographs contributed by residents of Opelousas, featuring everyday scenes, historic spaces, traditions and moments of community life.

“We have seen a beautiful response from the community,” says Project Director Divine Bailey-Nicholas. “These photos are more than pictures — they are living reflections of identity, memory and belonging. This exhibit helps us see Opelousas through the eyes of the people who live here.”

Contributions for the Opelousas Museum exhibit represent a wide range of neighborhoods, including Brickyard, The Hill, North End, South Park, the Oil Mill area and multiple other beloved sections of the city.

Each image reflects a piece of personal perspective — a front porch gathering, a street corner conversation, a driveway basketball game, a family home, a landmark store — collectively forming a portrait of how residents experience the place they call home.

The “Where We Live: Opelousas Neighborhoods” viewing at the Opelousas Museum is free and open to the public, offering an interactive experience that highlights the unique identity, memories and visual storytelling of Opelousas communities.

Organizers share that by inviting community members to capture photographs of their surroundings, the project sparks conversation, elevates local perspectives and preserves neighborhood identity as part of the city’s cultural record.

“Where We Live: Opelousas Neighborhoods” is supported by a grant from the Division of the Arts, a part of the Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, in cooperation with the Louisiana State Arts Council, as administered by the Acadiana Center for the Arts.

The National Endowment for the Arts has also provided funding. And the Museums Advancing Racial Justice Initiative is supporting the project.