Madisonville, Louisiana is one of the oldest communities within the state of Louisiana and has many of the great things that Louisiana has to offer. It was originally named Cokie from the French word Coquille, which means shell. Later, the town decided to change the name to Madisonville in the early 1800′s to honor President James Madison. It sits on the Tchefuncte River which means that the history of the town has been heavily influenced by water. The site has eight sites listed on the National Historic Register.

Part of the town sits on Jahcke Shipyard where thousands of people used to work and earn a living for years. During the early 1900′s many individuals decided to come by boat during the summer and weekend. They come to see the historic Greek revival to Creole cottage. There are also several museums such as the Lake Ponchartrain Basin Maritime Museum which many visitors each year. In this museum and others there are millions of historic artifacts which document the time of the Indians and the explorers.

Visitors and residents also go to see the Fairview-Riverside State Park which is located just east of town. On hot days, you can see many people outside having a picnic, playing games or taking a leisurely stroll. The park sits right next to the Otis House which is an early Victorian home built in the 1880′s by W. T. Jay. Frank Otis. It was then purchased, remodeled and donated to the state. There are regular tours of the mansion daily. If you want to camp overnight, the park offers several campsites equipped with electricity and water.

Many people drive down the shores of Lake Ponchartrain, which takes them by some of the most beautiful homes in all of Louisiana. Once you get on the outskirts of town, you will see several marshlands and in the distance you will see the Tchefuncte Lighthouse. The lighthouse is scheduled to be remodeled in the coming years. Many individuals also fish in Madisonville because of the abundance of trout, redfish, catfish and others.