Explore Baton Rouge: Things to Do at Rural Life Museum

Building Community, Building Louisiana: The People of the Rural Life Museum

The LSU Rural Life Museum is proud to present its 2026 theme, Community: The Fabric of our Nation.
"Building Community, Building Louisiana: The People of the Rural Life Museum."

As we celebrate the 250th anniversary of our nation, we honor the everyday people who built Louisiana by highlighting the communities represented at the LSU Rural Life Museum. Through families' historical accounts and objects in the collection, this year's exhibit will focus on the people who called the museum's historic structures home.

Programming will include performances, author talks, exhibitions, and hands-on demonstrations.

The exhibition will be on display from February through October 2026.

Included with museum admission.

Campers building a birdhouse

LSU Rural Life Apprentice Program

Monday, June 1st - Friday, June 5th

8:00am- 12:30pm

The LSU Rural Apprentice Program is our hands-on summer program where campers step back in time to explore Louisiana history, culture, and traditional skills. Guided by craftspeople and museum professionals, campers will practice historic trades, agricultural practices, and daily life from the past.
In celebration of America's 250th anniversary, we're excited to feature new and thematic activities for campers to bring America's history to life in fun and meaningful ways! Forge a fork, participate in Spanish-Louisiana marching drills, and try your hand at baking an election cake. Practice your penmanship with the very same paper and ink made the previous day.

Age Group: 4th-8th graders for the 2026-2027 school year

Cost: $125 for museum members, $150 for non-members

Registration: Registration has closed.

Fiddlin' with the Finest!

A Celebration of Louisiana Fiddling

Saturday, June 13th- 2:00pm

Celebrate the continuing legacy of Louisiana folk fiddling at the LSU Rural Life Museum for Fiddlin' with the Finest! A discussion with three past Louisiana State Fiddle Champions on the importance of this tradition will include live music. The performance of various regional fiddle styles will be accompanied by demonstrations of fiddle stick playing and twin fiddling. A Q&A session on participating in fiddle competitions will follow. Fiddlers of all skill levels are invited to bring their instruments for a jam session with some of Louisiana’s finest fiddlers! Everyone young and old is invited to this free event!

Keynote Speakers:

Dr. Shane Rasmussen, NSU Professor of English and Director of the Louisiana Folklife Center
Clancey Stewart, 2018 Louisiana State Fiddle Champion and fiddle instructor
Joe Suchanek, 2024 Louisiana State Fiddle Champion and guitarist
Gina Forsyth, Award Winning Singer and Songwriter

Presenting Partners:

Louisiana Folklife Center
Natchitoches Louisiana: Convention and Visitor Bureau
Natchitoches: Where History Lives
New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation, Inc.
City of Natchitoches Louisiana
Cane River National Heritage Area
Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities
Shreveport Regional Arts Council

Antique Tractor

Powering the Past: Antique Engines Showcase

Saturday, July 25th
10:00 am - 3:00 pm

Spark your creativity, crank machinery, and witness history come to life at the LSU Rural Life Museum for the 2nd Antique Engines Showcase! This special event celebrates the early mechanical power that shaped rural Louisiana.

Features:

Antique tractors, engines, and cars

Rope-making, blacksmithing, and rural machinery demos

Antique water pump & sugarcane grinder

Kids activities

and more!

Included with general museum admission- free for museum members

The LSU Rural Life Museum is proud to present its 2026 theme, Community: The Fabric of our Nation."Building Community, Building Louisiana: The People of the Rural Life Museum."