Arrival of the First Seven Leprosy Patients in 1894. Johnny P. Harmon, oil on canvas, 1994. Image Courtesy of the National Hansen's Disease Museum, Permanent Collection. Carville, LA.

Because of the laws prohibiting using public transportation for an officially quarantined disease like leprosy, the first seven patient who arrived at Indian Camp Plantation in November of 1894 had to be moved via coal barge.

They arrived with furnishings, supplies and food donated by Charity Hospital in New Orleans.