As America approaches its 250th anniversary in 2026, the Louisiana State Museum joins the national America 250 and Louisiana America 250 commemorations—celebrating the people, places, and ideals that shaped our nation’s founding. Through two major exhibitions at the Cabildo and a series of partner events, we honor Louisiana’s unique contributions to the fight for independence and to the democratic ideals that still define us today.
Bienvenue Lafayette
Now on view through May 4, 2027 at the Cabildo
Bienvenue Lafayette commemorates the 200th anniversary of the Marquis de Lafayette’s 1825 Farewell Tour, when the Revolutionary War hero spent five days in New Orleans. The exhibition features portraits, artifacts, and immersive storytelling that trace Lafayette’s journey from young French nobleman to trusted ally of George Washington—and finally to beloved guest of the nation he helped create. Plan your visit!
Gálvez and Louisiana in the American Revolution
Now on view through May 4, 2027 at the Cabildo
Launching at the Cabildo, this landmark exhibition illuminates Louisiana’s decisive yet often-overlooked role in winning American independence. Visitors discover how Spanish Governor Bernardo de Gálvez led a coalition of Creole and Spanish settlers, free people of color, enslaved Africans, and Native allies to victory along the Gulf Coast by securing the Mississippi River for the Revolutionary cause. Through rare artifacts, interactive media, and stories of Louisiana’s diverse Revolutionaries, the exhibition invites visitors to see our state reflected in America’s founding story.
We the People
Opening June 23, 2026 at Capitol Park Museum
We the People is a large-scale immersive media installation by Pulitzer Prize–winning photographer Steven G. Smith, featuring nearly 200 paired photographs shown across two giant screens at Capitol Park Museum. Moving from rural landscapes to city streets and from quiet portraits to scenes of community, the exhibition explores everyday moments that reveal shared American experiences across difference. The installation will also include American flag–themed objects from the Louisiana State Museum’s collection, along with a special We the LOUISIANA People section featuring community-submitted photographs that bring Louisiana voices into the national story.
Sail 250 New Orleans
Part of the international tall-ship parade commemorating America’s 250th, Sail 250 New Orleans will bring a spectacular fleet of sailing vessels to the Mississippi River in spring 2026. The Louisiana State Museum will join in welcoming these historic ships and their crews, highlighting Louisiana’s deep maritime heritage and its strategic role in America’s Revolutionary victory.
To honor those who serve, the Louisiana State Museum will offer free admission to active-duty military personnel and veterans with valid military ID during Sail 250 New Orleans. The offer is available Monday, May 25, through Sunday, May 31, at all five New Orleans museum properties and applies to the service member or veteran presenting ID.
America 250 is the official U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission, established by Congress to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding in 1776. Its mission is to inspire every American to reflect on the past, celebrate the present, and build a more just and inclusive future for generations to come. Through national partnerships, public programs, and community stories, America 250 aims to create the largest and most inclusive commemoration in our country’s history.
Furthering Our Mission
Louisiana State Museum sees America 250 as a transformative opportunity to advance historical understanding and civic engagement. By illuminating the stories of Louisiana’s diverse Revolutionary-era communities and connecting them to contemporary conversations about freedom, equity, and citizenship, these exhibitions and programs fulfill our core mission to “preserve Louisiana’s history and inspire its people through education, dialogue, and shared heritage.” They embody the vision of museums as inclusive spaces for learning, reflection, and community connection.
