This 1860 Creole cottage with chambered Greek Revival columns was originally constructed of barge board by Ignatius and Catherine Strehle. Gretna Historical Society renovated the house to its present condition and designated this house as a museum for the history of Gretna.

The Government Room is devoted to the governmental formation of Gretna. It features artifacts like the proclamation signed by Governor Luther Hall in August 1913 proclaiming Gretna to be a city and the minutes of the first City Council Meeting, written in script prior to typewriters. There are photographs of all Gretna mayors, past and present.

The War and Police Room displays memorabilia of Police Chief Beauregard Miller Sr., elected in 1926 who served for 53 years until his death in 1979. He is believed to be the longest serving Chief of Police in American history.

On display is a remnant of an old musket and two cannon balls from the Civil War, 1860-1865 and a military footlocker, helmet and field pack from World War I. Featured is Gretna’s first war hero, Louis Oscar Fried. He was killed during the Spanish American War in the battle of Vera Cruz in April of 1914, a year after Gretna became a city.

From the WWII era, see emblems, jewelry and quite a bit of memorabilia from the christening of the SS Gretna Victory, a liberty ship that helped win WWII. The ship was christened by Mrs. Mary Bozzelle, chosen because she had eight children, all in various branches of the military, all who returned home safely.

The Religious Room features some of Gretna’s historic churches. The model church is a replica of the first St. Joseph Catholic Church. There are shots of the second and the present St. Joseph Church and an architect’s rendering of the Holy Family Memorial Garden. The sign from the Convent of the Sacred Heart and a High Mass candleholder and Paschal Candle are on display.

On display are commemorative plates from Salem Lutheran Church, Gretna United Methodist Church and the Gretna Presbyterian Church. There is also a photo of the first, second and present Salem Lutheran Church and one featuring the Salem Lutheran Ladies Club, circa 1940.

There is a picture of the old and new St. Anthony Catholic Church in McDonoghville, a Blessed Mother Shrine and a display case that holds old prayer books, bibles, rosaries, confirmation candles and prayer cards.

In the Education Room you will find a miniature of an old time classroom and see textbooks, fountain pens, bottles of ink, a school box, a 150 year old paper cutter, an old typewriter and a picture of George Washington. On display is a graduation invitation and class picture of nine students from the Class of 1914 at McDonogh-Jefferson High School.

There is a bust of John McDonogh and a picture of the old McDonogh School. See a Gretna High School Class of 1941 yearbook and a St. Joe brick from the remains of Gretna High School, sad reminders of the school burning.

Circa 1930, Principal Lillie White Ruppel’s Children’s Carnival Parade was popular. Students built floats on wagons or carts in the school basement. The first year’s parade floats were too large to go through the doors, so the doors had to be widened. They paraded through the streets of Gretna on the Friday before Mardi Gras.

PHOTO GALLERY