Please note that the Center for Louisiana Studies is unable to disseminate or license this footage. It is available for in-person viewing only.

Video contains information about the Lake Peigneur Disaster as well as a brief history of the salt mines in the area.

0:32 - video begins
Lake Peigneur Disaster-Jefferson Island-November 20, 1980,
0:39 - Woman talking about how she was awoken early in the morning by a loud noise
1:09 - Julius Gattiston(?) recounts that morning in the Jefferson Island salt mines
1:52 - Man interviewed, speaking about a fountain on the property and knowing something was wrong
2:20 - Footage of disaster
4:36 - Footage of Jefferson Island and its resources. Farming practices, oil drilling, and salt mining.
5:32 - Footage of Live Oak Gardens and gardens around Jefferson Island
6:54 - Footage of Joseph Jefferson, Jefferson Island namesake, acting as Rip Van Winkle in 1898
8:26 - Photos of Joseph Jefferson
9:25 - Photos of Jay Lyle Bayless of Louisville, Kentucky and his wife. Jay bought the home after Jefferson’s passing in 1905.
9:39 - Speaking about the presence of salt domes along the coast, including Jefferson Island.
10:28 - Jay Bayless and family began mining the salt in 1920 on Jefferson Island
10:30 - Photos of mining from early 20th century
11:30 - Salt mines were sold to the Diamond Crystal Salt Company in 1956
11:36 - Exploration for oil began in 1937 by Texaco Oil Company
12:00 - Footage of gardens created by Bayless, replicas of English gardens in the UK. Rip Van Winkle Gardens opened to the public in 1966
15:18 - Michael Richard, Horticulturalist. Acadiana native. Worked with Bayless to create the Live Oak Gardens.
16:33 - Footage of disaster
17:48 - “The Second Act”, reopening of the Gardens to the public after the disaster. Encouragement for preservation of the Garden grounds.
19:17 - Video ends