Nicholls State University welcomed the “Finding Your Roots” mobile museum on Friday, Feb 14 as part of its Black History Month celebration.

The “Finding Your Roots” mobile museum showcases historical African American memorabilia, artifacts and photos.

Originally in a building on Rousseau Street in Houma, the museum opted for a mobile experience after moving its collection in preparation for Hurricane Ida.

Margie Scoby, founder and president of Finding Your Roots, said it was an RV they decided to transfer the collection to. 

“Because of God’s grace and mercies, it was a vision I was given and we ended up buying this unit,” Scoby said.

The museum gutted the RV and remodeled it to hold the collection.

The main source of the museum’s memorabilia are received through research or permissions from universities. Some are also donated by locals that want to share a family member’s story.

“Finding Your Roots” frequents locations in Terrebonne, Lafourche and St. Mary Parishes. The museum has also traveled as far as Southern University and the University of New Orleans.

“We venture out because many of the people that once were located in Houma and Thibodaux have left and gone to other parishes,” Scoby said.

Scoby said the museum is important because it tells the history of a people that were once here and their history erased. 

“By bringing it to life again, it teaches visitors exactly what happened to us as a people,” Scoby said.

Find more information about “Finding Your Roots” on their website https://explorehouma.com/finding-our-roots/.