News Release

Acadian Cultural Center presents “Leprosy the Separating Sickness” for Display

Date: March 14, 2024
Contact: Laura McDonald, 504-382-0296

Lafayette, LA.: The Acadian Cultural Center, in partnership with the Friends of Carville Historic District and a grant made possible from the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities, is pleased to host the photographic exhibit “Leprosy the Separating Sickness.” The exhibit will be open from April 2, 2024 – May 28, 2024, Tuesdays through Saturdays, 9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. at the Acadian Cultural Center, 501 Fisher Road, Lafayette, LA. The exhibit is free! For more information, call 337-232-0789 ext. 201.

Leprosy, preferably called Hansen’s disease, is a misunderstood bacterial condition. The Carville Leprosarium, also known as the Gillis W. Long Hansen’s Disease Center, was the nation’s center for Hansen’s Disease research. Johnny Harmon was a photographer and a patient of the Carville Leprosarium, who captured images of the Carville residents. The 19-panel exhibit features Harmon’s images of the Carville residents, including men, women, and children who were hospitalized for life at the United States Public Health Hospital, later called Gillis Long Hansen’s Disease Center. The exhibit shows the humanity of the people who were unnecessarily and unjustly isolated, and seeks to dispel misunderstandings about the disease and educate the public about the community created by Carville’s residents.
The Acadian Cultural Center is managed by the National Park Service as part of Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve. The center is open Tuesday - Saturday 9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. The center is closed on federal holidays and Mardi Gras. The film “The Cajun Way; Echoes of Acadia” is shown hourly beginning at 10:00 a.m., with the last showing at 3:00 p.m. Rangers present a short talk at 10:45 a.m. Tuesday-Saturday. The center also features exhibits and programs on the history and cultures of south Louisiana. Admission to the center and for most center programs is free. Group tours are available by reservation. Call the Acadian Cultural Center at 337-232-0789 ext. 201 or visit the Acadian Cultural Center webpage.