The Varnado Store Museum is housed in an historic building in downtown Franklinton, LA, parish seat of Washington Parish. The two-story, century-old structure was a hub of activity in the early days of Washington Parish as farmers would come to town, sell their produce and purchase needed supplies.

Early records show that the building was built prior to 1910 and was owned by Daniel E. Sheridan, a timber dealer, real estate agent, Franklinton alderman, and director of the Bank of Franklinton and the First State Bank of Bogalusa. A 1910 map of Franklinton shows that W. C. Lonnergan, formerly of Carriere, MS, owned the business, which had on hand a very large general stock comprising fancy and staple groceries, dry goods, notions, shoes, hats and clothing along with a big line of feed stuffs, harness and saddlery, and farming implements. He drew trade from a fifteen mile radius of town and shipped to points along the N.O. and Great Northern Railroad. He was a member of Woodmen of the World and took a keen interest in the development and advancement of his town.

Other previous owners include S. H. Burris, who owned the store in 1913. In 1920 the David A. Varnado family purchased the store, and they worked the store until it closed in the mid 1980’s. Some of the people who worked at the store over the years were Mrs. Delos (Mildred) Magee, Olan Varnado, Mrs. Lillie Varnado, Lena Varnado, Theodore Alford, Mary Jones Burkhalter, Doris Erwin's father, and countless others.

About seven years ago a handful of volunteers began diligently working to purchase the historic D. A. Varnado and Sons Dry Goods Store and building in order to establish a museum. The Washington Area Museum Foundation was formed, consisting of a board of fifteen members that represented the entire parish. Memberships and donations were solicited for the purpose of raising funds to purchase the property. Generous individuals, businesses and institutions within the parish made donations, but the Foundation finally had to contract a loan for the remaining money needed to purchase the building. Then the work began!

The building had been closed for many years and needed lots of attention. Volunteers still continued to dream their dream which, as stated in the Foundation's by-laws, is:

The Washington Area Museum Foundation shall be an historical, cultural, and educational entity with the primary purpose of encouraging research, collecting, preserving and presenting as an educational resource, objects of art, documents, and artifacts that reflect the history, art, and culture of the parish and the surrounding areas. The Foundation has, and continues to have, two fund-raisers annually: Spring Street Fair in April and Festival of Trees in December, both of which are organized and manned by volunteers. Proceeds from these events are used for roof repairs, better lighting and wiring, heating and cooling, educational programs and more.

Many area residents have donated items to add to the collection that was already in the store. The monthly changing exhibits consist of loaned items, as well as general store memorabilia. A glimpse of life from the early 20th century is sure to please visitors of all ages.

Busy volunteers worked for over a year to host for six weeks the Smithsonian Institution's traveling exhibit, Produce for Victory, Posters on the American Home Front, 1941-1945. Dates were: January 21, 2002 through March 1, 2002. The D. A. Varnado Store Museum was one of six sites selected by the LA Endowment for the Humanities to host the exhibit and the only site in the Florida Parishes. A year of community activities, educational workshops, displays, musicals and more centered around local World War II history. A local exhibit of home front memorabilia was held at the museum, and an extensive exhibit of local WWII items was on display for six weeks, bringing thousands of visitors.

The Varnado Store Museum has made much progress, and is now open every weekend, Saturdays 10 - 4 and Sundays 1 - 4, weekdays by appointment only. The contantly changing exhibits are a window into the past, featuring a glimpse of early life in the parish. It is the goal of the Foundation to eventually be open full time with a paid director, to develop the second floor, and to provide many more educational programs and exhibits. The new building behind the museum houses the museum office. It replicates the old shipping/loading dock and warehouse from which wagons and trucks loaded their supplies. It houses the recordkeeping office and provides a meeting room and hands-on educational facility, etc. Inside the museum there is a fun gift shop where visitors can purchase memorabilia, locally handcrafted items and homemade jellies, jams and lots of other homegrown, home-canned goodies! Tourist information about various other area attractions is also available at the museum.

The museum and its many volunteers continue to work hard to preserve local history and local heritage in many different ways. Admission is free; donations welcomed.