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The LSU Rural Life Museum is proud to present its 2025 theme,
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Author Talk: Dr. Alecia Long
📅 Thursday, September 18, 2025
🕠 Doors Open: 5:30 PM | Talk Begins: 6:00 PM
The LSU Rural Life Museum welcomes Dr. Alecia P. Long, LSU Professor of History and Department Chair, for an evening lecture:
Not Just the Facts Ma’am: Police Corruption and the Unsolved Murder of Diddie Cooper.
Dr. Long will explore the 1952 murder of New Orleans socialite Diddie Cooper, highlighting gender, corruption, and the controversial acquittal that followed.
She is the author of The Great Southern Babylon and Cruising for Conspirators, co-editor of Occupied Women, and is currently working on The Devil’s Wishing Well.
📖 Books from the author will be available for purchase in the Museum Gift Shop. Attendees will have the opportunity to get their copies signed and chat with the author when the talk concludes.
🟣 Admission is free and open to the public, thanks to the generous support of the Josef Sternberg Memorial Foundation.
Harvests Days
📅 Saturday & Sunday, October 4–5, 2025
🕙 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Step back in time and celebrate the harvest season at the LSU Rural Life Museum’s annual Harvest Days. Experience the sights, sounds, and flavors of 19th-century rural Louisiana with live demonstrations of traditional crafts and skills. Watch artisans at work as they prepare food over open-hearth fires, weave baskets, carve wood, work leather, and more. Wander the museum grounds, meet skilled craftspeople, and immerse yourself in the heritage of Louisiana’s rural past.
🟣 Admission:
Ages 0–3: Free
Ages 4–11: $10
Ages 12+: $12
Author Talk: Dr. Kodi Roberts
📅 Tuesday, October 7, 2025
🕠 Doors Open: 5:30 PM | Talk Begins: 6:00 PM
Explore the rich and complex history of Voodoo in New Orleans with Dr. Kodi Roberts, author of
Voodoo & Power: The Politics of Religion in New Orleans 1881–1940.
Dr. Roberts will delve into the political, cultural, and spiritual dimensions of Voodoo, including the life and legacy of the legendary Marie Laveau. This engaging evening talk will offer new insights into one of Louisiana’s most enduring traditions.
📖 Books from the author will be available for purchase in the Museum Gift Shop. Attendees will have the opportunity to get their copies signed and chat with the author when the talk concludes.
🟣 Admission: Free and open to the public, thanks to the generous support of the Josef Sternberg Memorial Foundation.
Haints, Haunts, & Halloween
📅 Sunday, October 26, 2025
🕑 2:00 PM – 4:30 PM
Step into the charm of an old-fashioned country fair at the LSU Rural Life Museum’s Haints, Haunts & Halloween! This safe and family-friendly celebration is the perfect way to enjoy Halloween with a nostalgic twist. Enjoy storytelling, a cake walk, games, and trick-or-treating across the museum grounds. Costumes are encouraged, and families of all ages are welcome to join in the fun.
🟣 Admission:
Ages 0–3: Free
Ages 4–11: $6
Ages 12+: $12
Author Talk: Dr. Daniel Usner
📅 Wednesday, November 12, 2025
🕑 Doors open: 11:30 AM | Talk Begins: 12 PM
Join us for a thought-provoking lunchtime program with Dr. Daniel Usner, author of
Native American Women and the Burdens of Southern History.
Dr. Usner will shed light on the resilience, leadership, and cultural influence of Indigenous women in the American South, offering a deeper understanding of their historical significance and ongoing legacy.
📖 Books from the author will be available for purchase in the Museum Gift Shop. Attendees will have the opportunity to get their copies signed and chat with the author when the talk concludes.
🟣 Admission is free and open to the public, thanks to the generous support of the Josef Sternberg Memorial Foundation.
A Rural Life Christmas
📅 Sunday, December 7, 2025
🕚 Daytime Portion: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
🌙 Evening Portion: 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Celebrate the season at the LSU Rural Life Museum’s 19th-century Louisiana Christmas event. Enjoy live music, skilled artisans, storytellers, and costumed re-enactors bringing holiday traditions to life.
Families can meet Papa Noël, explore festive activities, and immerse themselves in the joyful spirit of the season.
🕚 Daytime Portion Admission:
Ages 0–3: Free
Ages 4–11: $6
Ages 12+: $12
🌙 Evening Portion Admission:
Ticket link coming soon!
