Pride of Place: Stories of Old South Baton Rouge
Louisiana State Museum-Baton Rouge Unveils New Exhibition
Opening June 18, 2009 free admission
By Events Editor
It started as an idea of the McKinley High School Class of 1969. In planning for their fortieth reunion, they decided that rather than just reconnecting with their former classmates, Pride of Placethey would reconnect with the history of their community during the 1950s and 60s. From that idea came the new exhibition Pride of Place: Stories of Old South Baton Rouge, a yearlong, comprehensive celebration of a neighborhood and an era.
Opening June 18, 2009, at the Louisiana State Museum- Baton Rouge, Pride of Place is the latest effort to expand community partnerships and exhibitions across the State Museum. This exhibition will also usher in the Museum's new "free admission" policy. Starting June 18, admission to all exhibitions at the Louisiana State Museum-Baton Rouge will be free to the public.
Old South Baton Rouge
"Louisiana is a place where you can experience history every day, and Pride of Place allows the world to share in the heritage of Old South Baton Rouge," said Lieutenant Governor Mitch Landrieu, who heads the Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, which includes the Louisiana State Museum. "Members of the community combined their efforts, their experiences and their artifacts to get this exhibition off the ground.The Louisiana State Museum is proud to partner with them to make their stories come alive."
The culturally rich African-American neighborhood of Old South Baton Rouge was home to world-champion boxer Joe Brown, actress Lynn Whitfield, Randy Jackson of American Idol fame, and many others. Planned as a key stop on Louisiana’s African American Heritage Trail, which was launched in 2008 by Lt. Governor Landrieu, the exhibition explores milestone events in Louisiana and U.S. history such as the 1953 Baton Rouge bus boycott. Additional programming includes performing arts, visual arts, lectures, storytelling, and neighborhood tours.
Old South Baton Rouge "Pride of Place is more than the history of a neighborhood," said Sam Rykels, director of the Louisiana State Museum. "We see potential for this exhibition and the related community programs to serve as guideposts for the future of Old South Baton Rouge." Brenda Williams, who grew up in the Old South Baton Rouge neighborhood and is a member of the McKinley High School Class of 1969, agrees. Members of her class have played an integral role in assisting with the exhibit, lending photos, documents, and other items to bring the history to life. "What happened during the Civil Rights era in Old South Baton Rouge changed the neighborhood—and the nation—in many ways," said Williams. "So while this exhibition is about our history, it's also about our present here in Baton Rouge. We're grateful to the Louisiana State Museum for the chance to share our history."
Old South Baton Rouge Pride of Place takes place in partnership with the Office of the Lt. Governor; Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, Louisiana Museum Foundation; Louisiana’s African American Heritage Trail; AT&T; McKinley High School Class of 1969; McKinley Alumni Center; Petra Hendry and Jay Edwards, authors of Old South Baton Rouge: Roots of Hope and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette Press; Louisiana State Museum Friends; and with special thanks to friends and neighbors in the community of Old South Baton Rouge.
The Louisiana State Museum - Baton Rouge is located at 660 North Fourth Street in downtown Baton Rouge. Hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 5 p.m. Admission is free.
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