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Free historical seminar and exhibition highlighting Louisiana’s Spanish colonial history scheduled for June 10
BATON ROUGE, La. – The State Library of Louisiana and Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser invite the public to America 250: Louisiana at the Frontier of a New Nation, a free program commemorating the 250th anniversary of American independence through the often-overlooked story of Spanish colonial Louisiana. The program opens Wednesday, June 10, 2026, with a morning seminar at the State Library Seminar Center, the unveiling of a special exhibition of historical maps and documents, and the release of a curated reading list of America 250 titles available at public libraries throughout the year.
The program kicks off at 9 a.m. with a historical seminar at the State Library, 701 N. Fourth Street, Baton Rouge. The seminar will feature presentations from experienced historians on Louisiana’s Spanish colonial period.
"Without Louisiana’s involvement, the American Revolution might have ended differently," said Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser. “Spanish colonial Louisiana was in the fight from the beginning, shipping gunpowder up the Mississippi to the Continental Army, and raising a Spanish-led force to drive the British off the Gulf Coast. As America 250 celebrations are being held across the country this summer, our State Library is presenting a great opportunity to learn more about Louisiana’s unique contributions to our nation’s founding.”
Ray Berthelot of the Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism will present Spain’s Presence in Louisiana, examining how nearly four decades of Spanish rule, beginning in 1762, shaped Louisiana’s enduring culture, law, language, foodways, and traditions. Chris Achee of the Ascension Parish Library will follow with La Marcha de Galvez, a costumed reenactment-lecture in which Achee appears as Governor Bernardo de Gálvez, the Spanish colonial governor who, on the secret orders of King Carlos III, armed the American Revolution from New Orleans and led a multicultural army of Spanish regulars, French Creoles, Acadians, free men of color, Indigenous allies, and Canary Islanders to drive the British from Baton Rouge in 1779.
“The State Library is, at its heart, a place where Louisianans can come to understand who they are and where they come from,” said State Librarian Meg Placke. “With America 250: Louisiana at the Frontier of a New Nation, we’ll bring together expert speakers and historical materials to present an insightful picture of our shared history and our state’s role in the founding of the United States. We look forward to welcoming Louisianans of all ages to this free program on June 10.”
Following the seminar, attendees are invited to view the accompanying exhibition in the State Library’s first-floor lobby. Curated from the Library’s Louisiana Collection, the exhibition presents historical maps and documents from the Spanish colonial period and the years leading to Louisiana’s statehood in 1812. The exhibition will remain on view throughout the summer.
A recommended reading list spanning the colonial era, the American Revolution on the Gulf Coast, the Louisiana Purchase, and the path to statehood will be distributed to attendees on June 10, and a digital version will be posted at library.la.gov.
Free and open to the public, America 250: Louisiana at the Frontier of a New Nation begins at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, in the Seminar Center on the first floor of the State Library of Louisiana. For more information, visit the State Library America 250 webpage.
Contact Information:
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Kevin Calbert |
Barry Landry |