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In October of last year, the Mardi Gras Museum of Imperial Calcasieu officially broke ground on its new, nearly 8,000-square-foot home at 641 Enterprise Boulevard in the historic Nellie Lutcher District. Designed by local architect Jeff Kudla and being built by Gunter Construction, this project marks another major step toward revitalizing this historic area, enhancing local businesses and cultural tourism. Originally housed at Central School in Lake Charles, this revived Mardi Gras Museum continues to host the largest collection of Mardi Gras memorabilia on display in the country and is slated to open in late 2025. It was voted into the Top 10 Attractions to Visit in Louisiana in 2019 and the museum’s goal is to be in the top five moving forward.
David J. Faulk is the curator/director of the Mardi Gras Museum. This Louisiana native was born in Rayne, raised in Welsh, and moved to Lake Charles in 1982. He began working at the Mardi Gras Museum in 2015 and soon after became the director. His responsibilities include the daily operations of the museum, acquisition of new costumes, collecting memorabilia, and preserving the history of Imperial Calcasieu Mardi Gras.
Thrive recently connected with Faulk and he shared details on what prompted the need for a new museum, how the community can get involved, and his enthusiasm for everything Mardi Gras.
What are your earliest memories of Mardi Gras?
My first memory of Mardi Gras happened around age six. Our uncle took me and my brother along with our four cousins to Church Point for the “horse parade”. We later learned it’s called a Cajun chicken run or Courier De Mardi Gras. As a child, the event was a little scary to see these grown people dancing and standing up on horses, acting kind of crazy.
Describe your career journey that led you to get involved with the Mardi Gras Museum.
I first got involved with Lake Charles’ Mardi Gras by working with David O’Quinn, a local costume designer and founder of Krewe of Illusions, after working with him as a floral designer. After nearly 28 years, I retired from floral designing and worked at Dillard’s as a visual manager and also worked at the Lake Charles Country Club. After retirement, I took two years off and was then offered the position at the museum.
How and when did the first Mardi Gras Museum get its start?
In 1997, Anne Monlezun and David O’Quinn were asked to create a temporary Mardi Gras display at Central School that was to last up to a year. They recruited captains from the local krewes to help assemble the collection. The exhibit opened January 6, 1998. The costume collection started in two Central School classrooms and expanded into six rooms and the hallway. After that first year, the City of Lake Charles and Visit Lake Charles asked if it could remain for another five years. And it just never closed. We’re still an organization today and excited to open our new facility.
Describe the damage caused to the Mardi Gras Museum by Hurricanes Laura and Delta in 2020.
Ninety-eight percent of the museum’s collection survived the hurricane damage. We lost a few feathers and some stored fabrics. The costumes all survived. But because of the extensive damage to Central School, we were forced to pack away all 500+ costumes and memorabilia. It only took us 4 ½ months to put it in storage.
What can visitors expect to see in the new museum?
With seven unique sections, along with a Mardi Gras library and a conference room for krewe meetings, this new museum will offer an exciting, immersive Mardi Gras experience. Animatronic figures, including the beloved Norah Jean, the talking dog from the Krewe of Barkus, add a touch of whimsy. There’s a life-size talking horse and of course he needs to talk to the chickens and two dogs about the parades. We’ll bring back the hundreds of historic costumes spanning five decades. And we’re also looking into a visual dress up experience. Designed to celebrate the family-friendly traditions of Southwest Louisiana’s Mardi Gras culture, the museum is a nod to our area’s unique heritage.
How has the new museum been funded?
Visit Lake Charles acquired a grant from the Economic Development Association (EDA), along with grants from the City of Lake Charles, the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury, and generous donations from individuals and local businesses. There are several levels of sponsorship available, from $100 to $25,000 or more for a real Mardi Gras enthusiast. We are selling bricks and tiles to pave the Memory Garden at the entrance of the museum. We have advertisement sponsorship on a mural in the museum and various sections and rooms. We have sponsorships available for two decorative Mardi Gras columns, a parade float, the conference room, Mardi Gras Library, and more. Patrons can even sponsor the upgrade and maintenance of our existing animatronic mannequins.
Name three things you love most about Mardi Gras.
I love the parades, Twelfth Night and the Royal Gala, and receiving invitations to several krewe balls.
For more information on sponsorships or to make a donation, email Faulk at [email protected].
