The Louisiana National Guard Museum at Jackson Barracks tells the story of Louisiana Citizen Soldiers from the colonial period to current operations.
The vivid story of Louisiana’s militia begins with early French settlement, moves through Spanish involvement in the American Revolution, the U.S. purchase of the territory, statehood, the Battle of New Orleans, the Mexican War, the Civil War, both world wars, the Cold War, and into the Global War on Terror. The ever evolving history also covers National Guard involvement in peacetime operations such as many natural and manmade disasters. Louisiana Guardsmen and their families have been making a sacrifice for the state and nation for centuries now.
The museum located at Jackson Barracks originated as the The Louisiana Military History and State Weapons Museum, established by Louisiana Acts 1974, No. 688, 1 which detailed the location of the museum as Jackson Barracks, New Orleans, LA under the management and supervision of a nine member board of managers appointed by the governor.
In 1977 the museum moved into the newly renovated historic 1837 powder magazine, on the Historic Jackson Barracks site. Ten years later The Friends of the Jackson Barracks Museum incorporated, established their board of directors and obtained federal recognition as a non-profit organization.
Throughout the 1980s and 90s the museum continued to grow, expanding its exhibit, storage, conservation, restoration and library spaces into the seven buildings.