The Donald “Doc” Voorhies Wing

In 2011, the New Iberia Museum Foundation raised funds to purchase an adjacent building on the corner of East Main Street and Serret Alley.

Shortly after, resources were made available to replace the roof and restore the brick facade. We have now embarked on a capital campaign to fund the interior restoration. The building bears the name of local philanthropist, Donald “Doc” Voorhies, who generously provided seed money for the new wing. The new space is the future home of New Iberia’s own Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco exhibit, as well as room for lectures, rotating exhibits, public access to archives and a large collections area which will allow us to continue to collect and preserve the history around us.

As storyteller, guardian and teacher, the museum will use the space to educate visitors of all ages on the forces that have shaped, and continue to shape, the people of the Bayou Teche region.

The multipurpose facility will engage the public by preserving and sharing collections, stories and memories that define our identities, guide our futures and enrich the lives of our community. The expansion will be the home to the Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco exhibit, already designed and awaiting installation once construction is complete.

Also in the works are a multi-use education and activity area which will feature state-of-the-art technology for presentations and lectures, open space for community gatherings and celebrations, rotating exhibits, oral history kiosks, a research library and archives and a balcony overlooking Main Street.

If you’d like to make a financial donation to support our expansion into the new wing, please contact us today.

Donald Voorhies

Donald “Doc” Voorhies, a native of New Iberia, earned his B.S. from Loyola University and his M.S. and Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania. He returned to New Iberia and taught mathematics at Catholic High School for 33 years. He also organized science and social studies fairs, literary rallies and mathematics tournaments and helped improve athletic and academic facilities at the school.

Doc is a longtime supporter of the Bayou Teche Museum, the Belgian Student Exchange, and Nativity Catholic church, and has served on the board of Shadows-on-the-Teche and the Iberia Performing Arts League (IPAL). In addition to acting and directing at IPAL, he supervises publicity and outreach and lends a hand to other community programs as well. Doc has always believed that an individual’s time, talent and treasure exist to serve the larger community. His selfless dedication to giving back has been an inspiration to his community.