Louisiana History Museum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Old Alexandria Public Library: Houses Louisiana History Museum
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 Location in Louisiana
Location in the United States
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| Location | 503 Washington Alexandria, Louisiana |
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| Built | 1907 |
| Architect | Crosby & Henkel; Caldwell Bros. |
| Architectural style | Beaux Arts |
| NRHP reference No. | 88003225 |
| Added to NRHP | January 19, 1989 |
The Louisiana History Museum is in downtown Alexandria, near the Red River. It tells the story of Louisiana's past. The museum focuses on the history of Central Louisiana, Rapides Parish, and Alexandria. You can learn about Native Americans, Louisiana's land, how the government works, health care, farming, and the impact of wars.
The Museum's Historic Home
The building where the museum is located has a long history. It opened in 1907 as the Alexandria Public Library. It was built to help people learn and grow. The Caldwell Brothers were the contractors, and Crosby & Henkel were the architects. This new library replaced an older one that was burned down during the American Civil War in 1864.
The building has been updated several times. It was remodeled in 1970 and restored in 1976 and again in 2003. Today, the upstairs part of the building holds one of the largest libraries for finding family history in Louisiana. Because of its importance, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989. This means it is a special historic place.
How the Museum Began
The Louisiana History Museum started in 1971. It was the idea of Angelique Stafford "Gic" Kraushaar. She wanted to create a museum in Alexandria. Her goal was to share the history of all of Louisiana. She also wanted to highlight the unique stories of Central Louisiana.
Exploring the Museum's Exhibits
The museum has more than fifty different displays for you to explore. These exhibits cover many interesting topics about Louisiana's past:
- Native American Life: Learn about the first people who lived in Louisiana.
- Alexandria's Beginnings: See how the town of Alexandria was planned in 1805 by Alexander Fulton.
- Louisiana's Rulers: Discover how Louisiana was governed by Spain, France, and England long ago.
- Famous Louisiana Leaders: Find out about important people like Governor Murphy J. Foster, Jr..
- The American Revolution: Understand Louisiana's role in America gaining its freedom.
- The Civil War: Learn about this important war in American history.
- Building the Red River Dam: See how General Joseph Bailey built a special dam on the Red River during the Civil War.
- World War I Training: Explore the history of Camp Beauregard, a U.S. Army training camp during World War I.
- World War II Maneuvers: Learn about the Louisiana Maneuvers and Camp Claiborne in Alexandria during World War II. These were huge training exercises.
- Central Louisiana Politicians: Discover more about famous leaders from this area, including Huey Long and Earl Kemp Long.
- Postcards of the Past: See old postcards that show what Central Louisiana looked like long ago.
See also
- Louisiana State Museum – Baton Rouge, New Orleans, and other locations
