Mardi Gras Museum of Imperial Calcasieu, Lake Charles

Can you believe that some of the gear worn at Mardi gras is twice as tall as my husband? My only criticism of this museum is that the displays are close together so it's difficult to get photos that do the costumes justice. This was a remarkable experience for us. To see the costumes up close and learn about their design and construction was an education. Imagine paying $6000. for an outfit which would be worn about 4 times. About 250 costumes are displayed of the 500 that the museum owns. There's no dust and no torn fabric evident . In one area you can try on masks etc. Such fun even for mature adults. All in all a unique, educational, and entertaining museum.

The curator was very informative and friendly. The costumes are gorgeous and show great attention to detail. It was well worth the trip.

Just Amazing !!! So very neat to see alot of the Mardi Gras costumes of past kings and Queens. Learned alot about what Mardi Gras is really about. The museum curator was wonderful! A complete joy to be around and answered any question about Mardi Gras we had, he really brought everything together. A must see when visiting Lake Charles, or if your a local and just want to learn more about what Mardi Gras truely is.

It was awesome!! The history of it was interesting and the costumes extremely intricate. It was well laid out and great fun. I recommend a visit!

I had no idea how vibrant the history of Mardi Gras is. The guide that walked us through was so friendly and knowledgeable. There is so much to see, so make sure you give yourself enough time to take in all the beauty of each costume. Highly recommended!