Our Mission
The Friends of the Capitol Park Museum are dedicated to fostering a vibrant and inclusive community through the preservation and celebration of Louisiana's rich cultural history. We unite passionate individuals and organizations to support the Capitol Park Museum's educational initiatives, elevate public offerings, and ensure equitable access to our shared history.
OUR HISTORY
In 2006, the Capitol Park Museum opened its doors as the largest and most comprehensive survey of Louisiana’s history, culture, and art. Its mission — to collect, preserve, and present, as an educational resource, objects of art, documents, artifacts, and other materials that reflect the history, art, and culture of Louisiana for the citizens and visitors of the State — remains its guiding purpose today. The Museum’s work is powered by ten+ full-time staff and an ever-growing network of volunteers, including members of the Friends of the Capitol Park Museum, student interns, and community and corporate partners.
In 2009, a passionate group of citizens came together to form what was first known as the Louisiana State Museum Friends, later becoming the Friends of the Capitol Park Museum. Their shared goal was to expand the Museum’s reach and deepen its educational mission through community engagement, volunteerism, and advocacy. Within a year, the organization had formed its first board of directors, achieved 501(c)(3) nonprofit status, and established a formal partnership with the Louisiana State Museum.
The Friends’ mission today is to foster a vibrant and inclusive community through the preservation and celebration of Louisiana’s rich cultural history. We unite passionate individuals and organizations to support the Capitol Park Museum’s educational initiatives, elevate public offerings, and ensure equitable access to our shared heritage. While our membership is rooted in the Greater Baton Rouge area, our support extends across Louisiana — collaborating with multiple State Museum sites and cultural institutions.
Together, the Capitol Park Museum and the Friends work to expand education and awareness of Louisiana’s history, art, and culture through engaging programs, exhibitions, and partnerships. With a focus on residents, visitors, and K–12 students, the Museum continues to reach national and international audiences while strengthening its local impact on Louisiana’s schools and communities.
Since its founding, the Friends have raised over $170,000 in support of the Museum’s educational programming, exhibitions, and special projects. Highlights include the creation of the Museum’s front signage in 2013, fundraising leadership for the traveling exhibition Revolution! The Atlantic World Reborn in 2014, and support for the restoration and installation of the Conrad Albrizio mosaic in 2015.
Today, the Friends continue to grow their membership and community presence through events, partnerships, and fundraising. Our signature celebration, the Spanish Town Parade Party, has become one of Baton Rouge’s most anticipated Mardi Gras traditions, alongside exhibit openings, cultural programs, and special events that keep Louisiana’s stories alive for generations to come.
As the Capitol Park Museum approaches its 20th anniversary in 2026, the Friends are embracing a bold new chapter through a comprehensive rebrand that honors our past while looking toward the future. This reimagined identity reflects not only the Museum’s role as the largest in the Louisiana State Museum system but also its unique mission to tell the story of the entire state of Louisiana — every parish, every culture, every voice. The Friends’ refreshed look and renewed purpose position us as a beacon for connection, advocacy, and cultural pride, strengthening our ability to support the Museum’s statewide impact. As we move toward this milestone, we celebrate two decades of preserving Louisiana’s history — and the many generations of discovery, education, and inspiration still to come.