Welcome to the Shifting Landscapes virtual tour of Gallier House, which focuses deeply on how the house was experienced by the enslaved people—Laurette, Rose, Julienne, and François—who lived and labored there between the house’s completion in 1860 and the end of the Civil War in 1865. In addition to exploring the buildings, outdoor spaces, and collections at Gallier House, visitors will be given a glimpse into everyday life on the property and how the enslaved people at the house navigated their environment on the eve of slavery’s abolition in the southern United States. The tour will explore the idea of “shifting landscapes”: not only the ways in which the physical spaces of the house meant different things to different people at different times, but also the many ways in which social landscape shifted for enslaved people during this brief but tumultuous period in history. The tour also challenges us, in the present day, to shift our ways of thinking about the history of the landscapes—both physical and metaphorical—that we experience every day.
Featuring Gaynell Brady of Our Mammy’s, LLC.
Creative direction by Amy Katherine Medvick.
Videography and Post-Production provided by implictedMEDIA.
Video script editing by Amy Katherine Medvick and Katie Burlison.
Video script development by Amy Katherine Medvick, Katie Burlison, Tessa Jagger, and the collaborating
scholars (listed alphabetically by surname): Dr. Fallon Samuels Aidoo; Dr. Bryan Carter; Dr. Clifton Ellis;
Dr. Walter D. Greason; Dr. Erin M. Greenwald; Dr. Leslie M. Harris; Dr. Louis P. Nelson; Dr. Arijit Sen;
Brook Tesler, MPS; Mr. Leon A. Waters.
Acknowledgements
Shifting Landscapes: Slavery and the Built Environment is possible in part by a major grant from the
National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH): Democracy Demands Wisdom and the Institute of
Museum and Library Services’ Museums for America grant.
Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this tour do not necessarily
represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities or the Institute for Museum and Library
Services.
Click here to view the full tour credits, acknowledgements, and educational resources
Our Mammy's & Hermann Grima + Gallier Houses
In the Beginning
I have always loved the Hermann Grima + Gallier Historic Houses. The buildings, the outdoor spaces, and the stories. I have always been drawn to certain rooms at the museum since I worked in the French Quarter. There's something about the spaces that makes me reflect and create. This photo marked a rewarding moment between HGGH and Our Mammy's.
Photo credit: Dr. Amy Katherine Medvick
International Coalition of Sites of Conscience
Our Mammy's was selected by Herman Grima and Gallier House to participate in a multi-year project connecting museums and community partners nationwide. The lessons learned from these collaborations were documented in the Addressing the Silences Toolkit. As a result of this initiative, Gaynell learned open-hearth cooking, and the museum staff recognized the value of co-creating with community organizations, which led to new collaborative programs and deeper community engagement. Collectively, we listened, shared knowledge, and built new friendships. To access the toolkit and explore its resources, click here.
This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
Behind the Scenes at the Gallier House: Recording & Challenging Myself
Typically, I share stories about my ancestors, but I was approached by the staff at HGGH to portray Laurette, an enslaved woman who worked at the Gallier House, for their new virtual tour, Shifting Landscapes: Slavery and the Built Environment. This time was different for me. I had to read from a script. If you know me, you know it was the hardest thing I've ever done. Not because I couldn't connect with Laurette, but because I was struggling with material I didn't create — a new zone for me. Yet Amy and I met several times to ensure I was comfortable with the task.
The first time we recorded, it was filled with bloopers — if the walls could talk. I recognized what I forgot to do. I didn't get Laurettte's permission.
Weeks later, we met and chatted. We went back for a second round of recordings, but this time I took a moment to get Laurette's approval. And, after multiple evening recordings, we nailed it. I am so happy with the way everything turned out.
Click on the link to check out the tour and let me know your thoughts.
