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 The
Old Courthouse Museum, a branch of the Louisiana State Museum, is located in
the heart of the Natchitoches Historic Landmark District on the corner of Second
and Church Streets. The old parish courthouse building completed in 1896 originally
housed various offices such as the Clerk of Court, the Sheriff, the Police Jury,
and the parish courtroom. The Richardsonian-Romanesque landmark boasts many
distinctive architectural features, including heavily arched door and window
openings, a courtyard and a large distinctive tower.
When ever changing exhibitions and programs, the Old Courthouse Museum preserves,
presents and promotes Louisiana’s cultural heritage from the perspectives of
its many peoples. Other Louisiana State Museum sites include the Cabildo, Presbytere,
Arsenal, 1850 House, Madame John’s Legacy and the U.S. Mint in New Orleans as
well as the Wedell-Williams Memorial Aviation Museum and Cypress Sawmill Museum
in Patterson and E.D. White Historic House in Thibodaux, Louisiana. Further
information may be obtained by calling (318)357-2270 in Natchitoches or in New
Orleans toll free 800-568-6968. The website address is: http://lsm.crt.state.la.us/natch1.htm
So Vast and So Beautiful a Land: The Louisiana Purchase exhibition Opens
April 25, 2003 through December 31, 2004 In conjunction with Louisiana’s Bicentennial
of the Louisiana Purchase, the Old Courthouse Museum, a branch of the Louisiana
State Museum will present an exhibit entitled So Vast and So Beautiful A Land:
The Louisiana Purchase. The title of the exhibit takes its name from the description
of the territory sent by Meriwether Lewis to Thomas Jefferson.
The exhibit is divided into three parts. The first part focuses on the political aspects of the purchase with the original portraits, murals, maps, and coins representing the countries involved in the Purchase. Of special note in this gallery are Napoleon’s Death Mask and currency printed and signed by Benjamin Franklin.
Artifacts from the 15 states carved out of the Purchase will be on display in the “Hall of States”. Each state will send three to four rarely seen artifacts along with their state flag. Some of these artifacts include exceptional 19th century Spanish and Indian art pottery from New Mexico, a rare 250 year old French silver cross from Minnesota, relics from the St. Louis Centennial fair, extraordinary native American beadwork from the high plains, a century old African American quilt, and the original maps and documents associated with the earliest explorations. One of the highlights of this hall is a wall size interpretive panel with lights and audio various important expeditions and land areas in the Louisiana Purchase territory.
The final gallery will show the Purchase’s influences on the state of Louisiana. Artifacts such as Wilkinson’s sword, the last known botanical sample from the Red River expedition, and genuine Audubon prints will be the focal point of this gallery.
Old Courthouse Museum Programming schedule
A Louisiana Purchase symposium featuring guest speakers Dr. Jon Kukla and Dr. Dan Flores to be held April 25, 2003 from 11:00 to 3:00. Topics of each presentation will be the changes on United States after the Purchase and an in depth portrayal of the Red River Expedition.
Monthly programs relating to the exhibit will be held at the Museum.
For further information about our Louisiana Purchase exhibit, contact the Museum at (318) 357-2270. Old Courthouse Museum, 600 Second Street, Natchitoches, La. 71457
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