Le Musée de f.p.c.

Have you ever heard of the term “free people of color”? It’s a name that resonates with the history of New Orleans. Here before you stands Le Musée de f.p.c., a treasured landmark dedicated to preserving and sharing the stories of these extraordinary individuals. Often abbreviated as f.p.c., they were Black people born free or emancipated prior to the Civil War. This museum reveals their unique heritage, how they shaped New Orleans and their contributions to the nation’s history. Le Musée, housed in a beautifully restored Greek Revival residence on Esplanade Avenue, tells their tales of resilience, resourcefulness, and the enduring power of their community. The founders, Beverly Stanton McKenna and Dr. Dwight McKenna, spent decades collecting artifacts and documents that chronicle the lives of these free people of color: everything from hand-crafted furniture to original manumission papers. It was a fascinating community of artists, entrepreneurs, educators, journalists, and numerous business owners who carved out their place in a society rife with prejudice. Inside Le Musée, you’ll find a glimpse of their lives in New Orleans – their achievements and struggles, their triumphs and hardships. Among their ranks were individuals like Dr. Louis Charles Roudanez, a surgeon, activist, and publisher of the city’s first Black-owned newspaper. Le Musée de f.p.c. is dedicated to his memory and the incredible legacy of these individuals. Stepping through the doors of Le Musée, you’re embarking on a journey that connects you to the past, and reminds us that every story deserves to be told.