Louisiana America 250

A Spanish Gala Celebrating Bernardo de Galvez
2026-03-07 19:00 - 22:30 UTC | Cabildo, 701 Chartres Street, New Orleans, LA, 70116, United States
The Louisiana Museum Foundation invites you to celebrate the opening of Gálvez and Louisiana in the American Revolution, a major new exhibition opening March 8, 2026, at The Cabildo, exploring Louisiana’s pivotal role in the Revolutionary era under Spanish rule. Join us for the Spanish Gálvez Gala, a festive night at the historic Cabildo honoring this landmark exhibition and America’s 250th anniversary, set within the world of late 18th-century Spanish Colonial Louisiana. Formal attire inspired by 18th-century Spanish Colonial Louisiana
Historical costume welcomed; black tie preferred
The exhibition Gálvez and Louisiana in the American Revolution, at the Cabildo showing Louisiana’s decisive but often overlooked role in the Revolutionary era. Under Spanish Rule, the strategic placement of the bustling port of New Orleans made Louisiana central to intelligence gathering, military action, and diplomacy that shaped the outcome of the war. From crucial port, Spanish Governor Bernardo de Gálvez coordinated covert support to the Continental Army and later led a diverse coalition of free people of color, Native allies, Acadian refugees, enslaved Africans, and Creole and Spanish settlers to a series of stunning victories against British forces.

Remembering Louisiana Maneuvers & Victory Belles Concert
2026-03-07 | Zwolle Festival Grounds, 1100 S Main St, Zwolle, LA, 71486, United States

Colonial Louisiana and Spain's Contributions to the American Revolution
2026-03-06 09:00 - 2026-03-07 17:30 UTC
Symposium & Reception
Friday, March 6 at 9:00 am – 5:30 pm Central Time

Nunez Community College, 3710 Paris Rd, Chalmette, LA, 70043

Speakers
John L.” Jay” Dardenne – “Why Louisiana Wasn’t Boston, Philadelphia, or Williamsburg.” 53rd Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana.

Thomas E. Chåvez, PhD – “Spain’s Grand Strategy in the American Revolutionary War.” Author of Spain and the Independence of the United States: An Intrinsic Gift; The Diplomacy of Independence: Benjamin Franklin Documents in the Archives of Spain, and, most recently, Revolutionary Diplomacy: Spanish Connections and the Birth of the United States, and former Director of the Palace of the Governors of the Museum of New Mexico.

Stephen L. Kling, Jr., Esq. – is an independent researcher focusing on the western theater of the American Revolutionary War. His books include The Battle of St. Louis, the Attack on Cahokia, and the American Revolutionary War in the West (2017), Cavalry in the Wilderness: Cavalry in the Western Theater of the American Revolutionary War and the French and Indian War (2021), James Colbert and His Chickasaw Legacy (2022) and The American Revolutionary War in the West (2022). Kling was the primary historical consultant for the award-winning House of Thunder documentary on the Battle of St. Louis and guest curator of the American Revolutionary War in the West Museum Exhibit in St. Charles, Missouri. Kling, in collaboration with Kristine Sjostrom from Seville, Spain, has recently published An Underappreciated Victory: Bernardo de Gálvez’s Mississippi River Campaign Against the British in 1779, and is the guest curator for a museum exhibit based on that book at the Louisiana State Cabildo Museum in New Orleans.

Frances Kolb Turnbell, PhD – is an historian of Early America with a specialization in the eighteenth-century Lower Mississippi Valley. She earned her BA in history at Texas A&M University and her MA and PhD at Vanderbilt University. She is the author of Spanish Louisiana: Contest for Borderlands, 1763-1803 (LSU Press, 2024). She is the editor of the Tennessee Historical Quarterly. She is published in the Journal of Louisiana History and is a contributor to Atlantic Environments and the American South, as well as The American Revolutionary War in the West (2022). She teaches at the University of North Alabama.
Kristine L. Sjostrom – is an independent researcher from Seville, Spain. In 2022, she published Fernando de Leyba (1734-1780): A Life of Service and Sacrifice in Spanish Louisiana. Kristine has participated, collaborating with her research and articles, in several publications, conferences and expositions about the American Revolutionary War in the Mississippi River Valley, including The Battle of St. Louis, the Attack on Cahokia and the American Revolutionary War in the West (2017); Unveiling Memories (2019); The Militiamen of St. Louis and Ste. Genevieve (2020); Cavalry in the Wilderness: Cavalry in the Western Theater of the American Revolutionary War and the French and Indian War (2021); Blancos, Pardos y Morenos: Cinco siglos de americanos de España en el Ejército (2024) and the American Revolutionary War in the West conferences held in St. Charles, MO, in 2023 and 2024. Her latest collaboration with Stephen L. Kling, Jr., is An Underappreciated Victory: Gálvez’s Mississippi River Campaign of 1779 (2026).

Tim Seiter – is an assistant professor of history at the University of Texas at Tyler, specializing in colonial Texas with an emphasis on Spanish and Native histories. He recently put the finishing touches on his first book, Wrangling Pelicans (University of Texas Press), which explores daily life in eighteenth-century Tejas. Dr. Seiter has also written extensively about the Karankawa Indians of the Gulf Coast; his work on these peoples has appeared in Texas Monthly, the Texas Tribune, and Texas Highways.
Michael Nolden Henderson – “Got Proof! The Intersection of Slavery and Freedom in Spanish Colonial Louisiana During the American Revolution.” Michael Nolden Henderson, Lieutenant Commander, U.S. Navy retired, is a family history researcher, lecturer, and author. He has documented his Native American, French, French Canadian, African, and German-Swedish ancestry as far back as 1657, using Spanish and French records from numerous research depositories in Louisiana. Michael is the author of Got Proof! My Genealogical Journey Through the Use of Documentation, which explores the complex social structure of French and Spanish Louisiana, and uncovers the forbidden relationships that evolved into the unique Louisiana Creole culture. Most recently, Michael was a featured presenter at the “HispanoAmerica: A Shared Future” conference in Madrid, Spain, where he contributed vital information about the significance of Spain’s involvement in the American Revolution and the pivotal impact made on his family by the intervention of General Bernardo de Galvez in the liberation of his fourth-generation great-grandmother Agnes. He is a past-president of the Button Gwinnett Chapter, Georgia Society, Sons of the American Revolution.

Bradford Waters, MD – “Born for Greatness: The Gálvez Family of Macharaviaya, Spain.” Dr. Waters retired as a Captain from the U.S. Navy and was a Professor of Medicine at the University of Tennessee College of Medicine. He became fascinated with the Spanish role in the American Revolution while serving at the Naval Hospital Pensacola in the 1990s and the Puerto Castilla, Honduras base in 2004. His research has taken him to battlefields in Honduras, Nicaragua, Spain, Gibraltar, the Bahamas, Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri, and Michigan.

Stephen Estopinal – “Using Historical Fiction to Tell the Story of the Canary Islanders and Spanish Colonial Louisiana.” Author of a series of historical fiction novels set in Colonial Louisiana, including Escape to New Orleans and Pensacola Burning.

Ray Berthelot – “Remnants of Spain’s Colonial Heritage in Louisiana.” Chief of Interpretive Services and Historic Sites District Manager at the State of Louisiana, Office of State Parks, and adjunct instructor at Baton Rouge Community College.

Master Gardeners: Down & Dirty Seminar
2026-02-28 | Cypress Bend Resort, 2000 Cypress Bend Pkwy, Many, LA, 71449, United States

Bacchus Parade
2026-02-15 17:00 - 20:00 UTC
The Bacchus Parade starts at the corner on Napoleon and Tchoupitoulas. After a procession through uptown and downtown New Orleans, the Krewe of Bacchus concludes its parade at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on the New Orleans riverfront!

Frontier of Freedom: Louisiana's Legacy in the American Story
2026-01-31 | Ft. Jesup State Historic Site

Visit the El Nuevo Constante Exhibit
2026-01-26 - 2026-04-01

American Revolution Watch Party Event
2025-11-16 17:30 - 20:00 UTC | Louisiana Old State Capitol, 100 North Blvd, Baton Rouge, LA, 70801, United States
Join LPB for a powerful evening of history and storytelling as we premiere Ken Burns’ latest documentary, The American Revolution, at the iconic Old Louisiana State Capitol on Sunday, November 16, 2025. Step into the heart of our nation’s founding and experience the drama, courage, and complexity of the Revolution through Burns’ signature lens. Doors open at 5:30 PM for this free community watch party—come early, bring friends, and be part of the conversation that shaped America. Seating is limited so registration is required.

Teachers Symposium
2025-09-19 08:00 - 12:30 UTC
Louisiana’s Curious Role in the American Revolution: Revealing the Untold Stories and Historical Inaccuracies”
Location: Teacher Education Center, “Kiva”, Southeastern Louisiana University, Hammond, LA. For teachers of American History, Louisiana History, Civics, Politics and Government
( 4th grade through High School)
Sponsored by: Center for Southeast Louisiana Studies, Southeastern Louisiana University Dept. of Education, and the America 250 Louisiana State Commission Special thanks to the Office of the Lieutenant Governor and Southeastern Louisiana University for helping to make this event possible.
See Program
About the speakers

Battle of Lake Pontchartrain Commemoration Ceremony
2025-09-10
The Battle of Lake Pontchartrain, fought on September 10, 1779, was a pivotal naval skirmish during the American Revolutionary War. It took place in what was then British West Florida, now part of Louisiana, and was part of the broader Gulf Coast campaign.

Location: Girod St at Lakeshore Dr, Mandeville. LA

Revolutionary War Patriot Marker Dedication
2025-08-23 10:00 - 11:00 UTC | Historic Highland Cemetery, 4251 Oxford Ave, Baton Rouge, LA, 70808, United States
Please join us at the Historic Highland Cemetery for the dedication of a Revolutionary War Patriot Marker honoring

Armand Gabriel Allard du Plantier
Pierce Joseph de Farot
John Randolph

When: SATURDAY, AUGUST 23, 2025 FROM 10-11AM
Where: College Town Park Entry to Cemetery – 201 Amherst
Reception immediately following ceremony
If attending reception, kindly RSVP
CanaryIslandsDAR@gmail.com OR Text 225-266-2747

Event by CANARY ISLANDS CHAPTER
Daughters of the American Revolution

Sail 250
2025-08-21 00:00 UTC

Dedication of a Historic Marker: Patriot Founders of New Iberia
2025-05-29 15:30 - 17:00 UTC | Episcopal Church of the Epiphany, 303 West Main Street, New Iberia, LA, 70560, United States
New Iberia Chapter
National Society
Daughters of the American Revolution
Invites you to the Dedication of a Historical Marker commemorating the “Patriot Founders of New Iberia”
Thursday, May 29, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Marker Location : 230 West Main Street
New Iberia, Louisiana
(adjacent to David Groner Law Office)
Reception Location (Immediately following the Dedication): Burton Hall at Episcopal Church of the Epiphany
303 West Main Street

The Lafayette Musical & Immersive Bicentennial Tour (1825-2025)
2025-04-13 16:00 (America/Chicago) | Orpheum Theater, 129 Roosevelt Way, New Orleans, LA, 70112, United States
Discover a musical and immersive experience around the Marquis de Lafayette, to celebrate the 200-year anniversary of his exulted journey back to the United States of America.
Founded in 1981, the Orchestre national Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes plays a major role in the cultural life of its region while also serving as a brilliant ambassador in France and abroad. It combines international outreach with local engagement. As a civic-minded orchestra, it has been committed since its inception to the musical dissemination and audience awareness initiatives.
In January 2019 the Orchestre national Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes was awarded the title of “Orchestre national en région”. It also launched France’s first digital Live label, available on multiple music streaming platforms worldwide and in 2021 it created its own record label OnA. In June 2023, the orchestra officially became the Orchestre national Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, reaffirming its commitment to representing the region’s cultural identity and reaching the widest possible audience.
The Orchestre national Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, committed to expanding its reach at home, in the region and the rest of country, and internationally in Asia, Europe and America, represents around 150 concerts and events annually, including 6 to 10 performances abroad, drawing 20 000 spectators. With a catalog of 60 recordings, and nearly one million digital streams across 160 countries, the orchestra continues to enhance its influence in the global music scene.
Led by conductor Thomas Zehetmair, the Orchestre national Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes will perform a grand program related to the period encompassing Lafayette’s narrative as well as the historical time-spend around his tour while an immersive sound & light experience will retrace the Marquis’ travels and exceptional life story.
The presentation is a two-hour long performance on the topic of Lafayette’s tour back in America that will include 8 performances.
Our program
Conductor: Thomas Zehetmair
Repertoire:

Joseph BOLOGNE, Chevalier de Saint-George The Anonymous Lover: Opening
Ruth CRAWFORD SEEGER Andante for Strings
Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART Violin Concerto No. 5 in A Major KV. 219
Thomas ZEHETMAIR Passacaglia, Burlesque and Chorale for String Orchestra – World Premiere
Ludwig van BEETHOVEN Great Fugue in B flat major Opus 133

Book your seats from the Venue site or directly at TicketMaster.

Historic Marker Unveiling
2024-12-07 13:00 - 14:00 UTC | International Center (Old City Hall), 735 Jefferson Street, Lafayette, LA, United States
The unveiling of a historic marker that commemorates the upcoming 250th Anniversary of our nation’s establishment.

Battle of Baton Rouge Commemoration: Memorial Service & Symposium
2024-09-17 09:00 - 11:00 UTC
Location: Hilton Baton Rouge Capital Center The Riverview Room, 1st Floor
Memorial service for Galvez and the members of the Louisiana Militia, symposium on the role of Galvez and the Louisiana Militia in the American Revolution, and recognition of descendants of patriots that served in the Militia.

Battle of Baton Rouge Commemoration: Wreath Laying Ceremony
2024-09-14 09:00 (Asia/Karachi)
Location: Capitol Park Museum Front Entrance
Wreath laying ceremony in honor of that defeated the British at the Battle of Baton Rouge in September 1779.
