The Acadian Memorial had its beginnings in a project to preserve the Evangeline Oak by establishing a park to regulate a defined area around the oak and the adjacent daughter oak. In planning the park, it was noted that while the Evangeline Oak represented St. Martinville's literary ties to the Acadian story through Longfellow's poem, it did not, however, acknowledge its historic ties to the Acadians. The settlement of the refugees in the St. Martinville area constituted the first large Acadian community in Louisiana, and it was here that the Acadians first referred to their adopted homeland as Nouvelle Acadie or New Acadia. Thus were the seeds planted in the minds of those who are ultimately responsible for the creation of the Acadian Memorial--Jane G. Bulliard and Patricia D. Resweber. Today, Evangeline Oak Park offers a welcome respite for the locals and visitors, who can enjoy Cajun music and folklore by the tranquil waters of the Bayou Teche and explore Louisiana's heritage at the Memorial and other historic sites.
