Southern Forest Heritage Museum
About This Museum
People come here not just to see old machines, but to feel the sweat and grit of the lumberjacks and mill workers who shaped this land. You walk among giants—not just the Longleaf pines, but the colossal steam locomotives and the creaking, weathered mill buildings that somehow still stand. The air even smells different, a mix of aged pine sap and old grease that pulls you right back into the early 20th century. It’s a powerful, tangible connection to a way of life that built the South.
Collection Highlights
The star of the show is 'Rebel,' a massive steam-powered skidder that once dragged entire logs through the forest. Don't miss the fully operational sawmill; when it fires up, you hear the thunderous belts and see the saws scream through wood just as they did a hundred years ago.
Visitor Information
It's out on Longleaf Road, so you get that real feeling of being deep in the woods. Definitely wear good shoes because you'll be exploring mostly outdoors on gravel paths between these huge historic structures.
Architecture & Building
The heart of the museum is the original Longleaf Lumber Company site, a sprawling collection of rustic, industrial buildings with corrugated metal siding and heavy timber frames that look like they grew right out of the forest floor.
Contact & Location
Address: 77, Longleaf Road, Longleaf, Rapides Parish, Louisiana, United States
Phone: +1 318-748-8404
Website: Visit Website
