National Register Listing

White, Edward Douglass, House

a.k.a. Edward Douglass White Louisiana State Commemorative Area

5 mi. N of Thibodaux on LA 1, Thibodaux, LA
Local significance of the building:
Law; Politics/government

Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1976.

The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources.

architecture houses residential buildings
Audiobooks about the history of Louisiana.
Louisiana was a slave state before the American Civil War, and the state played a significant role in the Civil War. The Battle of Port Hudson, which took place in Louisiana in 1863, was the longest siege in American history.
Louisiana random facts
Lafourche Parish, located in southeastern Louisiana, has a rich history that dates back thousands of years. The area was originally inhabited by Native American tribes such as the Chitimacha and Atakapa before European settlement. In the 18th century, French colonizers arrived and established settlements along Bayou Lafourche, which served as a vital transportation route for trading goods. The parish was officially founded in 1807 and named after the bayou.

During the antebellum period, Lafourche Parish became an important center for agriculture, particularly the cultivation of sugarcane. Large plantations were established, relying heavily on enslaved labor. The prosperous sugar industry brought considerable wealth to the area, resulting in the construction of grand plantation homes and the growth of towns such as Thibodaux.

Lafourche Parish played a significant role during the Civil War, as it served as a vital supply route for the Confederate forces. Union troops targeted the area, and battles were fought along Bayou Lafourche. Despite the war's devastating impact on the local economy, the sugarcane industry rebounded in the post-war years, bolstered by free labor from formerly enslaved individuals.

In the 20th century, Lafourche Parish continued to thrive economically, with the oil and gas industry becoming a major player in the region. The discovery of oil deposits in the Gulf of Mexico brought an influx of workers and further development to the area. Today, Lafourche Parish remains an active hub for both agricultural and industrial activities, embracing its unique cultural heritage while adapting to modern challenges and opportunities.

This timeline provides a glimpse into the major events and milestones that have shaped the history of Lafourche Parish, Louisiana.

  • 1807 - Lafourche Parish is established as an original parish in the Territory of Orleans.
  • 1812 - Louisiana becomes a state, and Lafourche Parish is fully recognized as part of it.
  • 1847 - Thibodaux is incorporated as the first town in Lafourche Parish.
  • 1861-1865 - Lafourche Parish is heavily impacted by the American Civil War, with battles and military occupation taking place.
  • 1894 - Lafourche Parish Courthouse is completed in Thibodaux.
  • 1926 - The last commercial steamboat on Bayou Lafourche makes its final trip.
  • 1969 - Hurricane Camille causes significant damage to Lafourche Parish.
  • 1974 - The Leeville Bridge, connecting Lafourche Parish to Port Fourchon, is completed.
  • 2010 - Lafourche Parish celebrates its bicentennial.