louisiana state exhibit museum

This museum is housed in a beautiful, immaculate Art Deco building, built in 1937. The building itself is just as great as the museum, which is filled with very informative dioramas that must have been loads of fun to build back in the day. I would definitely recommend this place to history buffs an Art Deco fans.

I was at the State fair and the Museum was part of it. Very educational to the local area. It explained the different periods of time up to present.

A major feature is a series of 21 dioramas depicting life in the past, up to the late 1930's and early 1940's (when the dioramas were created). They are a reminder that life was not always as easy as it is today, showing people as they worked in agriculture and industries of the state in days gone by. Another feature exhibit shows a native American village. Other exhibits show objects of interest, including a cypress dugout canoe. One display case contains newspaper articles about Huey Long (check your history books if this name does not ring a bell -- even this Yankee has heard of the infamous Huey Long). Unfortunately little or no "hands on" stuff for the kids -- the building was opened in 1939, a little before such things became popular. Adults, on the other hand, should really enjoy the history to be found in the exhibits. Plan on spending a couple hours here as a minimum. There is enough variety in the exhibits and displays to pique the interest of most everyone.

This visit doesn't take a long time but should not be missed. They have hand carved dioramas depicting different parts of Louisiana history and regions. We had a nice visit and look forward to coming back.

Cars and trucks were manufactured in Shreveport in the early 1920's! This and many other interesting facts about Shreveport and the state are documented. Lots of dioramas representing various industries and early life in Louisiana are on display along with photographs,widely varied exhibits, and documents. The West Wing showcases Poverty Point and the Caddo Nation. You can find everything from John Hancock's signature to arrowheads.For history buffs, the museum is a good bet. It is open from 9:00 to 4:00, Monday - Friday and admission is free.

The Louisiana Museum is a great way ft the history buff to spend a hot afternoon. Arrive early enough to spend some time outside to appreciate the WPA era design and detail. Then take time to circle the museum first taking in the detailed dioramas depicting life in Louisiana and the state's commerce. Then circle. Another to to view the historical exhibits from the state. The museum is dated when compared to today's electronic interactive museums, but the displays themselves are appropriate to the museum's atmosphere. Be aware the gates close at 4 PM.

There can be no doubt that the Louisiana State Exhibit Museum is one of the most singular collections in North America. Its fresco-enhanced art-decor facade, its heroic shaping as a circular, torus ambulatory, and its astounding collection of Louisiana lifestyle artifacts will surely leave any reasonable visitor at once shaking his or her head with wonder but also with bewilderment. Surely this is one of the most richly miscellaneous collections that the museum culture ever created; splendid early-twentieth-century dioramas depicting Louisiana agrarian life and rare holograph letters from the colonial period jostle against ancient native American artifacts, displays of fishing lures and, in one case, even a box of dish detergent. The lack of any effort at interpretation is at once liberating and also dis-empowering. It is as if the organizers of these exhibits--or, more accurately arrays--believed that the sheer variety and abundance would carry the day. Unfortunately, the display installation--mostly glass cases either lined up in a row or placarded against the walls--are extremely old-fashioned. The museum itself is thus caught in a nostalgia for the early days of curatorship; it is a once a monument to a period in connoisseurship (when collections of curiosities were thought self-sufficient) and also a tragic study in missed opportunity. The artifacts from north Louisiana excavations (from the ancient settlements of Caddo and Poverty Point peoples) alone would merit a major exhibition in a first-class museum but here are displayed rather like items stacked high in a big-box hardware store. The Louisiana State Exhibit Museum has a huge amount to offer but it needs to get past its strange, upside-down self-obsession: the apparent thought that unaided novelty alone can qualify for excellence. Especially needful are some well-conceived interpretative materials and signage.

The museum is housed in a beautiful Art Deco style building and is beautifully maintained. There are extensive exhibits about the history of Louisiana, famous native sons, and about anything else you can imagine about the state. The dioramas are very well done, as are all the exhibit here. The museum is free and well worth a stop.

This is a nice little museum and has a lot more than I expected inside as it's free admission. Don't pass up on the small history lesson for the best price: FREE!

Free museum in a beautiful building, it doesn't get much better than that. The inside has the stereotypical history stuff, but the wholly mammoth tusk & the Indian canoe exhibit stands out! Also they incorporate student art contests that are on display. Nice to see a museum get involved with the community

I've been going there since I was a child. Never get tired looking at intricate dioramas. Very well maintained and offers something for all ages. Handicap access. Free. You won't be disappointed!

We were in Shreveport and decided to stop in this little museum. I say it is average based on size, depth of information and interactivity. It is a unique building and took about an hour to walk the entire circle and really take in the displays. The dioramas are better than average, and do a nice job of telling some Louisiana history. The multiple influences into the state's culture could have been explained fuller, but overall a nice quick summation of major history points. Not much to touch or interactive with, but it was laid out well, clean, staff friendly and worth the hour. We made a small donation upon leaving.

Free to take the family and learn about the history of La. Stuff that you will not find anywhere else. Great Artwork!

This was an awesome place to go to learn about Louisiana. My 13 yr old daughter and I had a great time looking at all of the exhibits they had. The best part was that it was free.

We went to this museum today with our kiddos on a whim. I can't believe how cool it was! And it's free! Lots to look at, lots to learn, very friendly staff. This was earsily our favorite place in Shreveport.