Mission

The Wooden Boat Festival is the primary fundraiser of the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Maritime Museum. In partnership with Southeastern Louisiana University, the mission of the Maritime Museum is to provide an education and research center to collect, interpret, and preserve the maritime history, culture, and environment of Lake Pontchartrain, the Lower Mississippi River Basin, and the Louisiana Gulf Coast. Our goal is to bring Louisiana's unique maritime history to life.

History

Every year since 1990, St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, hosts a tribute to the hand crafted wooden boats that made Louisiana’s maritime history and culture unique. Hundreds of boats will line the banks of the Tchefuncte River as over 30,000 attendees enjoy wooden boats, music, activities, and cajun cuisine. The Wooden Boat Festival funds the dynamic educational programs of the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Maritime Museum and restoration of the Tchefuncte River Lighthouse.