Louisiana State Museums

06/18/2026

Caught in Cane River Lake, 1930s 🎣📸

For many Louisianans, there is no better way to spend time than bass fishing, or waterfowl and alligator hunting. From Cane River Lake to Bayou Black and Lake D’Arbonne to Lacassine Pool, anglers seek out lunkers (large-size bass) year round. In the “Sportsman’s Paradise” of Louisiana, these activities are not just pastimes but a way of life revolving around remote camps, favorite dishes, and time with family and friends.

The “Lunkers, Specklebellies, & Cocodries: Business and Leisure on the Louisiana Bayou” exhibit explores the worlds of bass fishing and waterfowl, alligator, and deer hunting in Louisiana, from the rich habitat that supports the wildlife to the men and women who not only cast and shoot but create lures and decoys, cook the catch, and fashion high-end luxury goods out of the leather. It also traces the evolution of fishing and hunting regulations, from early conservation measures to modern game management.

🐟Visit the exhibit at the Wedell-Williams Aviation & Cypress Sawmill Museum in Patterson, LA for more.

06/18/2026

Celebrate the life and legacy of Lafcadio Hearn at the New Orleans Jazz Museum!

A world traveler, journalist, and author, Hearn spent nearly a decade in New Orleans writing about the city’s Creole culture, food, folklore, and everyday life before later settling in Japan, where he became known as Koizumi Yakumo and gained international recognition for his writings on Japanese legends and ghost stories.

Lafcadio Fest 2026 honors the lasting connections between New Orleans and Japan through talks, storytelling, food, music, and community reflections.

Join us Saturday, June 20, from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the New Orleans Jazz Museum. Free and open to the public.

Image: Lafcadio Hearn and his wife Setsuko in Kumamoto. Rihei Tomishige, 1892. Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

06/18/2026

Be among the first to experience We the People, an immersive new exhibition opening at Capitol Park Museum.

Created by Pulitzer Prize–winning photographer Steven G. Smith, We the People presents nearly 200 paired photographs across two giant screens, offering a powerful look at American life, identity, and connection. From quiet portraits to joyful scenes of people gathering, the exhibition invites visitors to reflect on the moments, places, and experiences that shape who we are.

Join us for a special opening reception featuring drinks, hors d’oeuvres, and a first look at this powerful photographic installation. This event is free and open to the public, but registration is encouraged.

Please register here: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/47net2b

06/18/2026

The Baton Rouge bus boycotts began on June 18, 1953 to protest racial segregation on city transportation. Organized by Reverend J. T. Jemison, the boycott made national headlines and inspired other civil rights events across the South. The boycott was so effective, the city council came to an agreement with Jemison after only five days. While many were unhappy with the conclusion, due to the abrupt ending to the boycott with little changes made to the policies, it demonstrated that change was possible.
Photograph courtesy of Ernest Ritchie

06/17/2026

06/17/2026

06/17/2026

What does America look like after 250 years?

Opening June 23 at Capitol Park Museum, We the People is a large-scale, immersive media installation by Pulitzer Prize–winning photographer Steven G. Smith. Through nearly 200 paired photographs, the exhibition moves from rural landscapes to city streets, from quiet portraits to joyful scenes of people gathering together.

Rather than focusing only on major news events, Smith’s work looks closely at everyday life and the small, powerful moments that reveal what Americans share across our differences.

Presented alongside American flag–themed objects from the Louisiana State Museum’s collection, We the People invites visitors to reflect on identity, patriotism, and the symbols that unite us as we mark 250 years of American history.

Experience We the People at Capitol Park Museum beginning June 23. Learn more at LouisianaStateMuseum.org.

AI disclosure: This promotional video was created with AI audio assistance using approved exhibition materials. The exhibition features original photography by Steven G. Smith and objects from the Louisiana State Museum collection.