Education
The Louisiana State Museum's education programs are designed to help teachers and their students get the most out of museum visits and to help awaken an appreciation for our state’s history and diverse culture in both children and adults.
Each lesson begins with a pre-visit activity that prepares students for their visit to the museum. The galleries come to life as students investigate and discover the interactive displays and artifacts, which entertain while imparting stories of our history, geography and culture.
Post-visit activities are included in every program. Museum educators offer specialized programming for small and large groups, and all educational programming is aligned to state content standards and grade level expectations (GLEs).
Come visit the Cabildo, the site of the Louisiana Purchase transfer ceremonies in 1803 and one of Louisiana’s most significant historical buildings. From landmark court cases to visits from international ambassadors, many important events in Louisiana have taken place within the Cabildo. The three floors of Cabildo feature rotating changing exhibitions on Louisiana history and culture. Please visit the exhibitions page for more information.
School tours are free for students and chaperones, and the Cabildo requires one adult chaperone for every 10 students. To schedule a field trip, please complete and return the reservation form.
Originally called the Casa Curial (Ecclesiastical House), the Presbytère derives its name from the fact that it was built on the site of the residence, or presbytère, of the Capuchin monks. The first floor exhibit is titled Living With Hurricanes: Katrina and Beyond. Combining eyewitness accounts, historical context, immersive environments and in-depth scientific exploration, this exhibition explores the impact of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and how Louisiana is learning to live more safely with hurricanes. The second floor exhibit, Mardi Gras: It’s Carnival Time in Louisiana, brings together rare historic artifacts, scores of magnificent costumes, spectacular displays and engaging videos to tell the story of this unique tradition.
School tours are free for students and chaperones, and The Presbytère requires one adult chaperone for every 10 students. Please complete and return the field trip reservation form to schedule your group. If you’re unsure if your group qualifies for free admission, please contact the education department at 504-568-6962.
The New Orleans Jazz Museum has made its home in the Old U.S. Mint, the only mint in the United States to produce American and Confederate coins. The first floor displays an exhibition detailing the building’s history as a mint. The second floor features rotating exhibitions based on Louisiana’s vibrant jazz history and Louisiana Historical Center’s Reading Room, which showcases the Museum’s extensive archive of historic documents.
Admission to the Old U.S. Mint is free for students in field trip groups as well as for one chaperone per every five students. To schedule a field trip for your group, please complete and return our reservation form. If you are unsure if your group qualifies for free admission, please contact the education department at 504-568-6962.
Madame John's Legacy is currently closed while careful and important work is being done to preserve this most historic building. Please visit our four other museums in the French Quarter.
Come visit the 1850 House, located in the Lower Pontalba Building. The home is furnished with mid-19th century domestic goods and decorative arts to depict middle- to upper-class family life during the most prosperous period in New Orleans’ history.
School tours are free for students and chaperones, and 1850 House requires one adult chaperone for every 10 students. To schedule a field trip, please complete and return the reservation form. If you are unsure if your group qualifies for free admission, please contact the education department at 504-568-6962.
Capitol Park Museum’s field trips and education programs are designed to be interactive and fun-filled expeditions for visitors of all ages. Upon arrival, the students are given an overview of the museum. Students may then search the galleries as they become explorers in age-appropriate treasure hunts, discover interactive displays and artifacts, and learn the history, geography and culture of the state.
School tours are free for all students and teachers. Capitol Park Museum requires one adult chaperone for every 10 students, and additional chaperones over a one to five student ratio may be charged. All school and youth groups with more than 10 students must make a reservation at least two weeks in advance.
For more info on educational opportunities with Capitol Park Museum please email [email protected].
The Wedell-Williams Aviation and Cypress Sawmill Museum in Patterson is the official state aviation and cypress sawmill industry museum. It houses two very important collections documenting our history in the early years of flight and in the development of milling in south Louisiana.
We invite you to bring your class on a field trip to Wedell-Williams Aviation and Cypress Sawmill Museum. School tours are free for students and chaperones, and we require at least one adult chaperone for every 10 students. All school and youth groups of more than 10 students must make a reservation. We recommend scheduling your tour at least two weeks in advance. You will find our reservation form below, as well as guides to help you and your students get the most out of your visit. Enhanced curriculum guides are available upon request. For more information on curriculum guides, please call 985-399-1268.
The E.D. White Historic Site near Thibodaux preserves the former home of two of Louisiana's foremost political figures: Edward Douglas White, who was governor from 1835 to 1839, and his son, Edward Douglass White, who was appointed to the United States Supreme Court in 1894 and served as chief justice from 1910 to 1921. An exhibit in this historic home tells the story of the Bayou Lafourche area, with features on the Chitimacha Indians, Acadian settlers, slavery, sugar cane plantations and the White family.
We invite you to bring your class on a field trip to E.D. White Historic Site to explore this site in person. School tours are free for students and chaperones, and we require at least one adult chaperone for every 10 students. All school and youth groups of more than 10 students must make a reservation. We recommend scheduling your tour at least two weeks in advance.
For more info on educational opportunities at the E.D. White Historic Site please email Ashley Franklin at [email protected].
The Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and Northwest Louisiana History Museum is housed in a stunning, award-winning contemporary structure in Natchitoches. This collection honors elite Louisiana athletes and documents the rich traditions and distinct cultures of northwest Louisiana, which date to the pre-Columbian era.
We invite you to bring your class on a field trip to the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and Northwest Louisiana History Museum to take in everything this unique site has to offer. School tours are free for students and chaperones, and we require at least one adult chaperone for every 10 students. All school and youth groups of more than 10 students must make a reservation. We recommend scheduling your tour at least two weeks in advance. If you are unsure if your group qualifies for free admission, please call 318-357-2491 to book tours and more information.