Louisiana and the Making of Mass Incarceration [Video]

NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — Museums have been changing the way we view exhibitions for a number of years. What may have started as dinosaur bones and printed script has become much more interactive, utilizing immersive technology and engaging dialogue that connects the past to the present day; as well as choosing topics that might be uncomfortable yet thought-provoking. Recently, The Historic New Orleans Collection unveiled a new exhibition that accounts for the story of how trends of incarceration in Louisiana came to be. Captive State: Louisiana and the Making of Mass Incarceration is on view from July 19 through January 19, 2025.

Many worked on the exhibition, which was six years in the making. People from the academic community, emancipation advocate nonprofits, people who are formally incarcerated and so many others. The goal was to tell a story in a holistic way and to inspire dialogue.

Eric Seiferth is a curator and historian at The Historic New Orleans Collection and says …