KEY TAKEAWAYS: “Sportsman’s Paradise” opens Nov. 5 at The Cabildo in New Orleans. The exhibition will remain on display through summer 2028. Artifacts include Audubon works, historic photographs and Louisiana-made decoys.   The Louisiana State Museum will open a new exhibition at The Cabildo in New Orleans examining the state’s sporting traditions and the evolution of wildlife and wetlands conservation, with the exhibit set to remain on display through summer 2028. “Sportsman’s Paradise: A Louisiana State Museum Exhibition Celebrating Conservation” will debut Nov. 5 as the centerpiece of the Louisiana Museum Foundation’s 2026 Founders Ball, the organizations announced. The exhibition will use artwork, photographs, decoys and other artifacts to trace Louisiana’s outdoor heritage, from early hunting and sporting traditions to modern conservation practices designed to protect wetlands and wildlife. Located along the Mississippi Flyway, Louisiana has long played a significant role in waterfowl migration and habitat conservation. The exhibition will draw from the Louisiana State Museum’s permanent collection as well as privately loaned pieces. Jean Baptiste Wiltz, unidentified artist, ca. 1815, oil on canvas, Louisiana State Museum 07326. Photo courtesy Louisiana State Museum. Featured items include original works by John James Audubon and George Viavant, early 20th-century photographs and Louisiana-made decoys. The exhibition will also explore the craftsmanship and cultural traditions that developed around hunting, fishing and other outdoor activities in the Mississippi River Delta. “Louisiana didn’t become known as the Sportsman’s Paradise by accident,” Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser said. “For generations, our people have understood the value of our wetlands, wildlife, and waterways and the responsibility we have to protect them. This exhibition tells that story through the traditions, artwork, and craftsmanship that make Louisiana unique, while showing how conservation continues to protect the places and way of life we treasure.” The conservation organization has helped conserve more than 629,000 acres in Louisiana since 1985. The Louisiana Museum Foundation’s annual Founders Ball raises money to support major exhibitions and related educational programming at the Louisiana State Museum. Proceeds from this year’s event will support the new exhibition as well as programming during its nearly two-year run, including K-12 field trips, student resources, public lectures and other educational programs. The Founders Ball will be held Nov. 5 at The Cabildo in New Orleans. Nungesser said the exhibition is intended to connect Louisiana’s outdoor traditions with the need to preserve the natural resources that support them. “The Sportsman’s Paradise is more than a nickname. It is part of who we are as Louisianians,” Nungesser said. “Whether you are a duck hunter, fisherman, outdoorsman, or simply someone who enjoys the beauty of our bayous and wetlands, these natural resources connect us to our past and our future. This exhibition celebrates that connection and reminds us why conservation matters.” ...read more read less