A group of people raise their right hands during a citizenship ceremony, with a woman in the foreground holding a small American flag.
Photograph by Steven G. Smith
Two brass musicians perform in the street at dusk, one playing trumpet in the foreground and another playing sousaphone behind him.
Photograph by Steven G. Smith
Young women in formal dresses wait backstage at an evening event, wearing numbered contestant tags.
Photograph by Steven G. Smith
A young Indigenous dancer in pink regalia looks into the distance during an outdoor gathering, with other dancers softly blurred in the background.
Photograph by Steven G. Smith
Historical reenactors dressed as British soldiers ride a bus, with one soldier asleep in the foreground and others seated behind him.
Photograph by Steven G. Smith
A U.S. Marine in dress uniform stands solemnly beside an American flag during an outdoor ceremony.
Photograph by Steven G. Smith
A man in a patterned cap and traditional clothing looks upward during an indoor ceremony, surrounded by other attendees.
Photograph by Steven G. Smith
A child with a sunflower in her hair eats pink cotton candy at an outdoor fair or festival during golden-hour light.
Photograph by Steven G. Smith
A man with a cigar in a bright green suit holds decorated fans while a brass band performs behind him during a New Orleans street procession.
Photograph by Steven G. Smith
Two children in blue traditional clothing sit beside an adult in matching blue attire inside a simple room, one child looking up while speaking.
Photograph by Steven G. Smith
A barber cuts a man’s hair inside a wood-paneled barbershop decorated with taxidermy, framed photos, and memorabilia.
Photograph by Steven G. Smith
Two young children in cowboy hats sit on saddled horses under a cloudy sky, with an adult standing nearby.
Photograph by Steven G. Smith
A woman wearing a birthday sash waves beneath a one-way sign at Iberville Street during a nighttime New Orleans street celebration, with colorful lights and a crowd in the background.
Photograph by Steven G. Smith

We the People

Capitol Park Museum
Tue, June 23, 2026 - Sat, January 02, 2026

We the People is a large, immersive media installation by Pulitzer Prize–winning photographer Steven G. Smith. At Capitol Park Museum, two giant screens—together about 12 feet high and 36 feet wide—show nearly 200 paired photographs. The images move from rural landscapes to city streets, and from quiet portraits to joyful scenes of people gathering together.

Rather than focusing on major news events, Smith looks closely at everyday life. His photographs reveal small but powerful moments that show what Americans share, even across our differences.

The exhibition will also include American flag–themed objects from the Louisiana State Museum’s collection. These objects add another layer to questions about identity, patriotism, and national symbols. A special We the LOUISIANA People section will feature photographs submitted by community members, bringing Louisiana voices into the larger national story.

 

Two logos on a white background: the official America 250 logo in red, white, and blue, and the Louisiana America 250 logo featuring the shape of Louisiana inside a red circular design with blue stars.

 

 

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