The Capitol Park Museum sits at the foot of the New State Capitol, telling the story of Louisiana through objects, environments, and oral histories. The permanent galleries cover Native American cultures, the colonial period, the plantation era, the Civil War, and the 20th century, with particular attention to the industries that shaped the state — sugar, cotton, oil, and seafood.
One highlight is the full-scale reproduction of an early 19th-century flatboat, the craft that carried goods down the Mississippi before steamboats took over. Another is the collection of Mardi Gras artefacts, including parade floats, costumes, and a timeline of the holiday's evolution from its origins to the modern krewe system. The offshore oil exhibit, with its replica rig section, reflects Louisiana's mid-20th-century transformation into an energy state. Admission is free for Louisiana residents; modest charge for out-of-state visitors.