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History unfolds at the Louisiana Civil Rights Museum: The Inaugural Experience inside the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. Follow the museum’s three dynamic pathways–the Right to Assemble, the Right to Education, and the Right to Vote–as they trace the connection between foundational stories from the late 19th century and events of the modern Civil Rights Movement.

Experience history through archival videos and firsthand oral histories of the marches, protests, and boycotts that shaped the movement. These narratives feature stories of activists along the 105-mile march from Bogalusa to Baton Rouge, New Orleans' direct action protests and lunch counter sit-ins, the brave students challenging segregation in schools throughout the state, and many more. Step into the Dreamcube, an interactive virtual reality room where visitors can hear from actual witnesses and participants as pivotal Civil Rights events come to life through immersive storytelling.

Explore the state’s history and leave inspired by the courage and resilience that define Louisiana’s Civil Rights legacy. Discover the profound impact of individuals and communities that shaped the course of history, leaving an indelible mark on Louisiana’s ongoing story of progress.

History of the Museum

The history of the Louisiana Civil Rights Museum began in 1999, when State Senator Diana Bajoie introduced legislation to establish the museum. The legislation passed both houses of the Louisiana Legislature and was signed into law by Governor Mike Foster on June 17, 1999, becoming Act 385. The law took effect on August 15, 1999, establishing the museum within the state’s museum system and creating a foundation for a permanent institution dedicated to preserving and interpreting Louisiana’s civil rights history.

Senator Bajoie continued to champion the museum’s development. In 2004, she introduced legislation establishing the Louisiana Civil Rights Museum Advisory Board and providing for its domicile in New Orleans. The bill became Act 731 on July 6, 2004. The board was charged with advising the Office of State Museum on matters relating to the museum’s operations, creating an organizational structure to guide its development.

For more than two decades, efforts to bring the museum to fruition continued. A significant step forward came in 2021, when Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser and the Louisiana Office of Tourism launched the Louisiana Civil Rights Trail. The trail highlights significant people, places, and events connected to Louisiana’s civil rights history. The state later described the trail as an important catalyst for bringing together the plans, resources, and leadership needed to move the museum forward.

These efforts culminated in The Inaugural Experience, which opened at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on October 8, 2023. The 5,000-square-foot exhibition uses multimedia videos, oral histories, and a state-of-the-art Dreamcube to immerse visitors in pivotal moments in Louisiana’s civil rights history. These include the 105-mile march from Bogalusa to Baton Rouge in 1967 and the desegregation of New Orleans public schools.

The Inaugural Experience marked the first public exhibition of the Louisiana Civil Rights Museum and an important milestone in the effort to establish a more comprehensive and permanent facility. Today, the museum continues to build on the legislative foundation established in 1999, the organizational structure developed in the years that followed, and the stories brought together through the Louisiana Civil Rights Trail. These efforts look toward a future in which the museum can expand its interpretation of Louisiana’s civil rights history and share its stories with generations to come.
 

Don't miss the DreamCube virtual reality experience! Looking for more? Visit the Louisiana Civil Rights Trail to learn more about significant sites across the state.

Members of the Louisiana Civil Rights Museum Advisory Board

Madlyn Bagneris
Sidney Barthelemey, Chair
Roland Belsome
Tyler Bruno
Karl Connor
Wanda Davis
Royce Duplessis
Priscilla Edwards
Thelma French
Blake Jones
Ernest Jones
Reginald Owens
Paula Peer
Harry Rosenthal
Emmanual Smith 
Dr. Terence Vinson
Ed Ward
Brenda Williams
Loyce Pierce Wright