Calendar of Events
Stay connected with upcoming programs, special events, and community gatherings at Magnolia Mound Museum. Explore opportunities to engage with history through lectures, workshops, and seasonal celebrations.
Juneteenth Community Event
Friday July 19, 2026 - 2-4p.m.
Event admission is free - General admission applies
Join us for a Juneteenth celebration highlighting the legacy of the historic South Baton Rouge community! Speakers Dr. Terrell Johnson of Southern University will share research on the area's origins, and Reginald Delpit of the Chicken Shack, a representative of the oldest continuously operating restaurant in Baton Rouge, will present his family's history. All community members, particularly those with origins in South Baton Rouge, are encourage to attend for lively discussion and great food! Children's activities will be available.
First Free Sunday
Sunday July 5, 2026 - 2p.m.
Armand Duplantier: From the American Revolution to a Louisiana Plantation
Did you know Magnolia Mound was home to an American Revolutionary War veteran? Join us for a discussion about Armand Duplantier, a French officer serving as an aide-de-camp to Marquis de Lafayette during the Revolution.
Duplantier represents the vital role of international support in America’s struggle for independence. He also represents one of the Revolution’s contradictions. After the war, Duplantier settled in Louisiana and became a plantation owner, participating in a system that denied others the very freedoms he had helped defend. This program offers an opportunity to reflect on the complexities of the nation’s founding as we approach the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution.
Presentation begins at 2 p.m.
First Free Sunday
Sunday August 2, 2026 - 1-4p.m.
Beating the Heat: Staying Cool in Early Louisiana
Explore the creative and practical ways people in early 19th-century Louisiana adapted to the region’s intense heat and humidity and the cultural influences, including French, Spanish, and Caribbean traditions, that shaped cooling techniques. From architectural innovations like raised homes and wide porches to daily habits, clothing choices, and the use of natural ventilation, this talk highlights how residents managed comfort before modern air conditioning. Stay to make a crafted hand fan! Presentation starts at 2 p.m.
First Free Sunday
Sunday September 6, 2026 - 1-4p.m.
Working Landscapes: Gardens, Fields, and Swamps
Join us to explore how people in the past worked with the land and used natural resources in creative and practical ways.
Featured Learning Stations:
Cash Crop Table – Learn about crops such as cotton, indigo, and sugar, and discover how they were grown, processed, and used. Visitors can also try their hand at drop spinning to transform fiber into thread.
Fur Table – Explore the back swamp landscapes of Louisiana plantations and learn about the regional fur trade. Test your knowledge with a hands-on “Animal Guess Who?” activity featuring real furs and pelts.
Kitchen Garden Table – Discover the herbs, vegetables, and other plants commonly grown in household gardens for cooking, medicine, and everyday survival. Try out a few garden-themed sorting games.
Together, these stations present a fuller picture of plantation life—one that moves beyond the main house to explore the interconnected systems of labor, environment, and survival that shaped daily life.
First Free Sunday - Pumpkin Event
Sunday October 4, 2026 - 1 to 4PM
Join us to find your perfect pumpkin! The Friends of Magnolia Mound, in partnership with the East Baton Rouge Master Gardener volunteers, will offer a selection of Magnolia Mound-grown pumpkins for purchase. Enjoy a family-friendly afternoon with special children’s activities while exploring the grounds of this historic site.
First Free Sunday
Sunday November 1, 2026 - 1 to 4PM
From Fire to Table: Early Louisiana Foodways
Join us for a presentation and cooking demonstrations exploring early Louisiana food traditions. Learn how Indigenous, African, French, Spanish, and Caribbean cultures shaped local cuisine, and see simple, traditional dishes prepared using historic techniques in the open-hearth kitchen. Discover the stories, flavors, and shared heritage behind the foods that still bring communities together today.
Creole Christmas
Sunday December 13, 2026 - 12 to 4PM
Program to be announced