Liz and Robert McDade own New Orleans' Great American Alligator Museum, a free attraction featuring alligator fossils, taxidermy, paintings, and live alligators. The museum grew from Robert's boyhood hobby of natural history and mineral collecting, combined with Liz's background as a geologist. They started with a rock shop selling minerals and fossils, then expanded after acquiring an alligator fossil from Wyoming 25 years ago and a large taxidermy alligator. 'People love buying alligator things. We had a joke: If it's green, it sells,' Robert said.
Morning routines and news habits
Robert wakes around 7:30 am, makes coffee, and reads several newspapers including The Guardian, The New York Times, The Washington Post, local New Orleans papers, and NPR. He also checks Business Insider for travel articles. Liz rises around 8:30 to 9 am, drinks Robert's coffee, checks emails and news, and does Wordle daily with her college roommate and her sister. The museum opens at 10 am.
Preparing for special events
On the day of the interview, Liz was preparing for the Champagne Stroll, an event where businesses on Magazine Street stay open late and offer sparkling wine to guests. She needed to buy bubbly for the event. The museum relies heavily on tourism; New Orleans had close to 20 million tourists last year. Currently, they see around 200 visitors daily, though summer heat and humidity pose challenges in attracting people.
Unwinding with exercise and karate
Robert and Liz prioritize daily exercise, including strength training at a local health club and walks in Audubon Park, especially in spring. For 35 years, they have practiced Shotokan karate three times a week, taught by a renowned Japanese martial artist who lived in Metairie, Louisiana.
Evening wind-down with films
In the evenings, they watch movies, cycling through genres like westerns, film noir, and international black-and-white films. Robert mentioned enjoying Jacques Demy's French film The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, saying they 'smiled throughout the entire movie.' He also starts and ends his day with a book, currently reading John Steinbeck's East of Eden.
