The Grand-Pré National Historic Site was initially founded in 1907 by John Frederic Herbin, who established Grand-Pré Park on the site of an Acadian cemetary. When the Dominion Atlantic Railway sought to purchase the surrounding land from him in 1917, he sold it only under the condition that the church site be preserved for the Acadian people. The Railway agreed, eventually transferring title to the land to the Société mutuelle de l'Assomption in 1921. Before ceding the land, however, the Railway placed the now-famous statue of Evangeline on the site in 1920 (located conveniently near the Grand-Pré train station).

From 1921 until 1957, the Société mutuelle de l'Assomption cared for the site. Their most notable addition was the Memorial Church, which was built in 1922 with money donated by Acadians from all over North America. The Government of Canada acquired Grand-Pré Memorial Park in 1957 and declared it a national historic site in 1961. The Acadian flag, however, still flies over the site.