An aerial view of an outdoor exhibit featuring several granite displays arranged in a row on a grey stone patio. The displays, viewed from a high angle on a sunny day, are rectangular and made of light-colored, speckled granite. Each has a glass top protecting a golden plaque inscribed with text. Etched lettering on the sides of the displays identify the documents within, including the "United States Constitution," "Bill of Rights," and "Civil Rights Amendments." A bed of green shrubs and mulch runs alongsi

Charters of Freedom

Capitol Park Museum

Explore the documents that shaped the United States

Now on permanent display outside the Capitol Park Museum, the Charters of Freedom invite visitors to encounter some of the nation’s foundational documents and consider the ideas, rights and responsibilities they represent.

The installation features full-size replicas of the Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution, Bill of Rights and Civil Rights Amendments, etched in metal and presented in a display modeled after the National Archives in Washington, D.C. The display is Louisiana’s first Charters of Freedom display and the 83rd permanently installed by Foundation Forward.

Located on the grounds of the Capitol Park Museum, the display offers a place to explore the nation’s founding documents alongside the stories of Louisiana and its people. From the American Revolution and Louisiana’s role in the founding era to the ongoing expansion of American rights, the documents provide a starting point for considering how the ideals expressed in them have shaped the nation over time.

Louisiana and the American Story

Louisiana’s history is deeply connected to the larger story of the United States. The state played a significant role in the American Revolution, including the 1779 Battle of Baton Rouge, when Spanish Governor Bernardo de Gálvez and his multinational forces captured the British-held fort at Baton Rouge.

The Charters of Freedom provide another way to explore Louisiana’s place in the nation’s history, connecting the documents that established the framework of the United States with the people, events and communities that have shaped the state for more than two centuries.

A Permanent Place for Reflection and Learning

The Charters of Freedom display is designed to make these historic documents accessible outside the walls of a traditional museum. Students, families and visitors can encounter the documents at their own pace, read the words that have influenced American history, and consider how the principles expressed in them have been interpreted and expanded over generations.

The installation is part of Foundation Forward’s nationwide initiative to bring full-size replicas of the nation’s founding documents to communities across the United States and encourage civic education.

Made Possible Through Partnership

Louisiana’s first Charters of Freedom display was made possible through a partnership among the Louisiana State Museum, Foundation Forward, Inc., Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser and the Louisiana Society of the Sons of the American Revolution.

Foundation Forward, a nonprofit educational organization founded by Vance and Mary Jo Patterson, provides Charters of Freedom displays to communities across the country. The Louisiana Society of the Sons of the American Revolution helped advance the project in Baton Rouge, including through the efforts of its General Philemon Thomas Chapter. The installation was dedicated on September 19, 2026, following the annual commemoration of the Battle of Baton Rouge.

The Charters of Freedom are now a permanent part of the Capitol Park Museum campus, extending the museum’s exploration of Louisiana history into the surrounding grounds.

Visit the Charters of Freedom outside Capitol Park Museum in Baton Rouge. The outdoor display is free and available to the public.

 

A black and white circular logo. In the center is an illustration of the Great Seal of the United States, featuring an eagle. The words "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" curve around the top of the logo, and "CHARTERS OF FREEDOM" curve around the bottom.

 

 

The Louisiana America 250 logo. It features a white silhouette of the state of Louisiana inside a large red semi-circle. An arc of blue stars is above the semi-circle. Below, the text reads "LOUISIANA" in blue, above "AMERICA 250," also in blue.

 

 

The State Seal of Louisiana is shown above the text "LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR BILLY NUNGESSER." The circular seal features a pelican feeding its young in a nest, with the state motto "Union, Justice, and Confidence" inscribed around the border.