It’s true that what starts as an interest can become a passion, and then even a subject of study. In the case of the Great American Alligator Museum, interest has turned into a collection of memorabilia assembled in honor of Americans’ fascination with our only living member of the prehistoric family Alligatoridae. Early on, we realized there is a constant sense of awe about these ancient creatures that begins in the nursery with ’A’ is for Alligator and Sendak’s “Alligators All Around.” Cult film favorites like “Lake Placid” and “The Alligator People” gave rise more recently to TV specials like “Gator Boys” and “Swamp People,” and the realization that Alligators and similar crocodilians have survived largely unchanged for hundreds of millions of years by simply existing on “EAT-SLEEP-EAT” mode. People can certainly relate to that, especially during a pandemic, right? (Did alligators have to deal with pandemics?).

Watch the news and you will notice that every day, without fail, alligators and their crocodilian friends are in the news: in someone’s front foyer, pool, golf course; or in postings from others with our obsession like @GatorsDaily or @GatorsGalohr and @LouisianaGators. Maurice Sendak was right – Alligators really are all around: in fashion, commerce, travel and leisure, ancient lore, and in our homes in art, books, toys, and knick knacks! 

OMG, the kitsch! Salt and pepper shakers, ashtrays, dolls and toys, watering cans, oven mitts, motion-activated talking radio gators and corn cob holders have all been refashioned into gator-shaped useful items! Folk artists and musicians, Mardi Gras krewes and tourists traveling to Louisiana and Florida all feature the alligator in their art and most precious memories.

If you have been following us for a while, you know we started the serious endeavor to open this museum in homage to the great American Alligator in 2005 (maybe you remember Katrina that year). Since then we drove our family and friends crazy with the fanciful and ever optimistic idea that the museum will be open in “about 2 weeks.” But now, it is 2022. And we really did, in spite of extenuating circumstances, or perhaps because of them, open to the public with an opening day on April 1st, 2022! 

Now with mostly regular hours, (Th-Sa afternoons for now), we can’t wait to welcome you to the Great American Alligator Museum on historic Magazine Street in New Orleans, a fitting place for the only museum like it in the world! Stay tuned to our Facebook and Instagram pages and Twitter (@GatorMuseum) for more announcements coming soon. Stay safe and don’t let the gators bite!