Louisiana State Parks Participates in National Museum Day and National Public Lands Day
OutdoorHub 09.14.11
Saturday, Sept. 24, visitors to Louisiana’s State Parks and Historic Sites can participate in a two nationwide events geared toward the appreciation of local natural and cultural resources— National Public Lands Day and National Museum Day.
Visitors can take advantage of free admission to Louisiana’s State Historic Sites on Sept. 24 to celebrate the Smithsonian Magazine National Museum Day. The Office of State Parks is a longtime partner with the Smithsonian Institute. The partnership includes overseeing excavations and continued curatorship of artifacts from Marksville State Historic Site and Poverty Point State Historic Site, which is a candidate for World Heritage Site status and was
named a Smithsonian Affiliate in 2010.
Special events scheduled at the State Historic Sites on Sept. 24 include:
- Audubon, St. Francisville—Visitors can tour a new exhibit on African-American sharecroppers at Oakley Plantation. Centenary, Jackson—Visitors can tour the historic West Wing Dormitory, previously closed to the public.
- Fort St. Jean Baptiste, Natchitoches—Visitors can participate in an after-hours tour of the museum with a Night at the Museum theme.
- Longfellow-Evangeline, St. Martinville—Visitors can enjoy a special display and discussion related to Acadian and Creole lifestyles, along with a spinning and weaving demonstration.
- Mansfield—Visitors can tour the museum and see unique items from the nearby battlefield. Plaquemine Lock, Plaquemine—Visitors can tour the lock house and lock system and experience special exhibits associated with the 50th anniversary of the lock’s decommission.
- Rebel, Marthaville—Visitors can experience an introduction to the techniques used to preserve Louisiana’s musical heritage. Exhibits include musical instruments and costumes worn by various bluegrass and country and western artists.
- Rosedown Plantation, St. Francisville—Staff will lead a guided tour of the attic of the main house and the production greenhouse accompanied by a presentation on preservation and restoration techniques used at the site.
Many Louisiana State Parks will have special programs dedicated to the preservation of the state’s natural resources, in conjunction with National Public Lands Day. NPLD is sponsored by the National Environmental Education Foundation, continuing the legacy started by the Civilian Conservation Corps, which enrolled 3 million Americans to maintain and improve public lands during the Great Depression. For more information on NPLD and a listing of Louisiana State Parks activities, visit www.publiclandsday.org, and click on Find a Site.
For more information on the events, click on News & Activities then Calendar of Events at www.LaStateParks.com.
