Jennings (pop. 11,000) was founded in 1884 as a wheat-growing area but farmers switched to growing rice. In 1901, oil was discovered 5mi/8km northeast of Jennings. This brought a rush of oil developers to the area.
The WH Tupper General Merchandise Museum in Jennings houses the entire inventory of a rural general store that closed in 1949. Exhibits include toys and games, period fashions, fabric, patent medicine, school supplies, antique automobile parts and hardware. Many items are in unopened packages or original display boxes. The Louisiana Telephone Pioneer Museum is housed within the same building. Exhibits include equipment, tools and telephones representing a century of telephone communication.
Hours:
9am-5pm; Closed: Sun, Sat
Always closed on: New Year's Day (January 1), Thanksgiving - USA (4th Thursday, November ), Christmas - Christian (December 25)
The Zigler Museum in Jennings contains realistic Louisiana wildlife dioramas, wildfoul carvings, Audubon's Double Elephant Folio of Birds of North America and the Wildlife Art Collection. The museum is housed in a converted brick Colonial home.
Address: Zigler Museum, 411 Clara Street, Jennings, LA 70546-5235, United States
Phone: 1 (318) 824-0114, Fax: 1 (318) 824-1020