175.2 Donaldsonville Boat Ramp

Even though there is a Boat Ramp marked on the USACE 2007 Lower Mississippi River Maps at Donaldsonville, it was ruined by the sediment effect of the 2011 flood, and the short remaining peice of concrete ramp exposed does not reach the river at most water levels. At time of writing (fall 2015) there have been no public plans for rebuilding the ramp at this location. Paddlers can make landing here regardless. Lift your vessel out of the water over the muddied rip-rap. You could make camp on the grassy area below the levee. Easy access to the town of Donaldsonville over the levee behind.

175 RBD Donaldsonville

Good resupply place but rough access in low/med water levels. Good picnic spot, possible camping on grassy fields below levee.

Donaldsonville could be a good resupply and meeting place for paddlers on the Lower Miss. Make your landing wherever possible in the open area to the south of the Bayou Lafourche Water Intake at 175.4 RBD. If you hit it right (in low/med water levels) you will find a sliver of a sandbar. A little higher and its all rip-rap. But then in high water you can make soft landings on the green grassy fields below the levee. You could possibly camp in the fields here below the levee, but it is vehicle accessible. Hide any valuables or take them with you. Leave someone to guard your vessels, or hide them in any nearby clumps of trees. Over the levee brings you to Crescent Park on Mississippi Street. Cut south one block to get to Railroad Avenue, Donaldsonville’s central artery for commerce. The public library and post office are nearby. You’ll find several choices for groceries, drug stores, hardware, as well as cafes and clubs, B&Bs and restaurants. The Cypress Cafe, Hambonz Piano Bar and Grapevine Cafe and Gallery are all on the same 200 block of Railroad Avenue. Behind City Hall at 406 Charles St is the River Road African American Museum.

Donaldsonville was already an old community when the United States declared itself to be an independent nation. A trading post had been established there around 1750, and the parish church had been built in 1772. In 1806, William Donaldson acquired a large tract of land in the area, and laid out a town on the river bank that was first called "La Ville de Donaldson." Donaldson was a native of Great Britain, but he spoke French fluently and was much admired by his French neighbors. An informant writing to President Thomas Jefferson in 1806 said of him: "The people here consider Donaldson a perfect, honest man." The village at Bayou LaFourche soon became known as Donaldsonville, When it was decided in 1829 that the capitol of the State of Louisiana ought to be located somewhere other than in the city of New Orleans, Donaldsonville offered the legislature a fine brick building that had been built in 1825. The offer was accepted, and the legislature met at Donaldsonville in January, 1830, for a full three-month term. In 1831, the legislators returned to Donaldsonville, but stayed only four days before adjourning and moving back to New Orleans. The State House at Donaldsonville became a school building, and was later demolished. (Braggs)