Capitol Park Museum and the John James Audubon Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) is excited to announce the opening of the American Revolution Experience at Capitol Park Museum on December 10, 2024. This innovative pop-up exhibition combines storytelling, illustration, technology, and primary accounts to connect modern audiences with the people and places that shaped the birth of our nation. 

Capitol Park Museum invites the public to a full day of family-friendly activities centered on the American Revolution, including a visit from the East Baton Rouge Parish Bookmobile, educational lectures, and more, on Saturday, December 14, 2024, with discounted admission of $5.00 and free entry for children six and under.

“This exhibition includes Louisiana Spanish colonial governor Bernardo de Gálvez and his campaigns against the British in the Gulf Coast region during the American Revolution,” says Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser. “Although Louisiana was not one of the Thirteen Colonies, we had an important role to play in securing American independence.”

The American Revolution Experience features thematic panels and interactive kiosks, which provide access to full digital biographies, Revolutionary War context, and information on visiting related historic sites. Custom illustrations by South Carolina–based artist Dale Watson and materials from DAR’s collection and the American Battlefield Trust’s digital interpretation resources enhance the experience. The exhibit highlights diverse perspectives and experiences, from Patriots and Loyalists to Black and Native populations, focusing on ordinary people like drummer boys and military mapmakers, rather than just famous generals and statesmen.

“The American Revolution would not have happened without the decisions, sacrifices, and valor of ordinary people,” says DAR President General Pamela Rouse Wright. “DAR is honored to have collaborated with the American Battlefield Trust on this initiative to highlight some of our Patriots and their roles in the founding of this great country. We are thrilled for people in communities across the country to learn more about these individuals.”

The American Revolution Experience will run through January 17, 2025, at the Capitol Park Museum in Baton Rouge. Capitol Park Museum is located at 660 N. Fourth Street in Baton Rouge and is open Tuesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (final tickets sold at 3:30 p.m.). Admission is $7 for adults, $6 for students, seniors, and active military, and free for children 6 and under.

About the Organizations

A collaboration between the American Battlefield Trust and the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, the American Revolution Experience is made possible by generous matching funds from the National Park Service’s American Battlefield Protection Program.

From a grassroots organization started by historians nearly 40 years ago, the American Battlefield Trust, creator of the American Revolution Experience, has grown into one of the most successful land preservation and education organizations in the nation. Its 350,000 members and supporters believe in the power of place and the continued relevance of our shared history to modern American society.

The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, sponsor of the exhibit, was founded in 1890 to promote historic preservation, education, and patriotism. Its members are descended from the patriots who won American independence during the Revolutionary War. With nearly 190,000 members in approximately 3,000 chapters worldwide, DAR is one of the world’s largest and most active service organizations. The John James Audubon Chapter, NSDAR, based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, is a community-focused organization with a history dating back to its founding in 1952.

Capitol Park Museum is among the many libraries, historical societies, and museums hosting the American Revolution Experience through the spring of 2025. Capitol Park Museum, the largest site within the Louisiana State Museum system, offers an in-depth exploration of Louisiana's culture by drawing upon the state's rich history, culinary traditions, music, industry, and agriculture to present a compelling narrative of Louisiana and its people.