By LEONARD GRAY / L’Observateur / January 4, 1998

“Baldwin’s Guide to Museums of Louisiana” is a much-needed book, outlining all the major and most of the minor museums across the state.

Alternately a travelogue and a field guide for stalking the museums of Louisiana, Jack and Winnie Baldwin provide a dream-book of places to go and things to see, anywhere in the state.

From the magnificent photograph of the Old State Capitol on the cover, the contents include not only art or history museums but also tribute to local celebrities and industry, some true oddities among museums and a mini- profile of each community mentioned.

Museums for African-Americans, museums for Native Americans, museums of dolls, museums of pharmacy and museums of prisoners of war are all included.

One can locate the first pharmacy in North America, the Louisiana Political Hall of Fame and a voodoo museum. Also included are the U.S.S.Kidd, military museums and the New Orleans Saints museum.

Local museums are not neglected and include area plantation houses such as Destrehan, Laura and San Francisco, as well as the St. James HistoricalSociety Museum in Lutcher.

In the next edition, to be sure, more recent developments as Evergreen Plantation in Wallace, the Reserve-Godchaux House Museum in Reserve and the (hoped-for) reopening of the Timbermill Museum in Garyville will be included.

Meanwhile, though, this volume is a welcome addition to the library of any Louisiana travel-addict and historical buff.

Retailing at $14.95, this Pelican Publishing Company volume is nowavailable at major bookstores.

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