NEW YORK -- The Crescent City's cultural institutions have stepped
to the fore of this year's Louisiana Purchase Bicentennial
celebrations.
The New Orleans Museum of Art will present an exhibit called
"Jefferson's America and Napoleon's France" from April 12 through
Aug. 31.
The exhibit will include many of the greatest works of art of
the early 19th century. It also will include documents from Lewis
and Clark's exploration of the Louisiana Territory. In addition,
the exhibit will feature reconstructions of the living quarters of
Thomas Jefferson and Napoleon Bonaparte.
More information is available at the
museum's Web site, at www.noma.org.
The Historic New Orleans Collection will present "A Fusion of
Nations, a Fusion of Cultures: Spain, France, the United States and
the Louisiana Purchase," from Jan. 14 through June 7.
The exhibit brings together treaties, documents, maps and
paintings to re-create Louisiana's multicultural heritage. At the
same time, the collection will present "Napoleon's Eyewitness:
Pierre Clement Laussat," which documents the transfer of the
territory from France to the U.S.
For more details, visit www.hnoc.org.
Meanwhile, plant lovers will not be forgotten in the
bicentennial festivities.
The New Orleans Botanical Garden in City Park will present an
exhibit called "Plants of the Louisiana Purchase: New Orleans
Horticulture, Jefferson's America and Napoleon's France," from
April 12 through Aug. 31.
The exhibit will showcase gardens, plants and growing techniques
from the late 18th and early 19th centuries. For more details,
visit www.neworleanscitypark.com/garden/.
For information on bicentennial events, visit
www.louisianapurchase2003.com; the New Orleans Metropolitan
Convention and Visitors Bureau, at www.neworleanscvb.com; or the Louisiana Travel
Promotion Association, at www.louisianatravel.com.
Hotels mark the occasion
NEW ORLEANS -- Two hotels are offering packages in conjunction
with the bicentennial celebrations:
• The Ritz-Carlton New Orleans offers a bicentennial package
through April 30 for $325 per person, double. It includes
one-night's accommodations, a spa treatment and tickets to the
Cabildo, site of the Louisiana Purchase transfer. For more details,
call (504) 524-1331 or visit www.ritzcarlton.com.
• The Hotel Monteleone's two-night package is valid April 12 to
Aug. 31 (based on availability) and will include tickets and
roundtrip transportation to the New Orleans Museum of Art's
Jefferson and Napoleon exhibit and a walking tour of the French
Quarter. The package costs $375 per person, double, Sundays through
Thursdays, and $400 Fridays and Saturdays. To book, call (504)
681-4457 or visit www.hotelmonteleone.com. -- D.C.