This 1845 historic Creole cottage was the home of village blacksmith, William D. White, his wife and nine children.

The original home had four rooms with a fireplace in the center. The kitchen and bathroom were outside with only the living area and bedrooms inside the home.

Upstairs was the quarters for the boys. The narrow staircase located outside to the left side of the building was the only entrance to the upstairs area. Furniture had to be lifted by a crane through double doors to this room.

One of the most notable of the White children was Lilly White Ruppel, a schoolteacher who became principal of Gretna Elementary School #1, which was later named for her. She served in the school system from 1904 until 1944. She and her brother, Billy, the last of the siblings to live in the cottage, resided there for many years.

Lilly White Ruppel’s picture hangs in honor on the wall as does other photographs of the city of Gretna, some dating back to the 1920’s. Artifacts like a picture of the Gretna Green Blacksmith Shop in Scotland, a donation to the museum complex are also there.

The White House was donated to the Gretna Historical Society in the 1980s. In 1990, termites were discovered in the area around the fireplace which was removed when the building was renovated to one large room to be used as a meeting hall, with a bathroom and kitchen to the rear.

In 2020 the White House was totally and beautifully renovated with a stunning updated kitchen and a new indoor bar area. The small patio at the rear was extended into a much larger outdoor space. The original floors were refinished and plantation shutters were installed in the windows.

The White House is available to be rented for social events such as receptions, repasts, showers, meetings and parties. The new amenities and expanded patio are meant for socializing.

For availability and rates, call the museum complex office at 504.362.3854 or email directoroffacilities@gretnahistoricalsociety.org