Port Arthur’s Cajun heritage is headed for Austin. The Cajun Capital of Texas has a reputation for letting the good times roll and received an invitation to be part of a festival exhibit at the Bullock Texas State History Museum.
Mike Juen, exhibition project manager and senior registrar at the history museum, reached out regarding Port Arthur’s inclusion, asking for representative suggestions. A team headed by Tom Neal, Museum of the Gulf Coast director, met to share ideas. The exhibit will include festivals across Texas and the Bullock staff was interested in the history of the Cajun Heritage Festival, set for April 4 this year.
The Bullock museum could accept three items. In considering the music and cuisine of the Cajun and Creole history of the area, the local group proposed the following:
- An accordion Norman Helms Jr. used in Cajun music performances around the area.
- An over-the-shoulder rub-board, also called a frottoir. This percussion instrument widely used in Cajun and zydeco music, was designed in Port Arthur in 1946. Credit goes to welder Willie Landry for Clifton Chenier’s brother, Cleveland. This style evolved from the wood-framed washboard.
- A ladle from Esther Benoit of the legendary Esther’s Seafood & Oyster Bar under the Rainbow Bridge. Now closed, the scenic restaurant lives on in local memories. This oversized ladle would dish out a satisfying portion of her rich gumbo.
Juen and Minsu Kwon, assistant registrar at the Bullock Museum, traveled to the Museum of the Gulf Coast to retrieve the MOGC’s loan. The festival exhibit will be up April 25-April 26 at the Bullock Museum in Austin…