Fun Fact Friday with Special Collections

Today we are going to look at the former seat of Spanish government in Louisiana, the Cabildo.

The original Cabildo was destroyed by a fire, but the current Cabildo was rebuilt between 1795-1799. The main hall, the “Sala Capitular” was used as a courtroom by the Spanish government then by the Louisiana territorial superior court.

From 1868-1910 it was the home of the Louisiana Supreme Court. The Sala Capitular was the site of several landmark court cases, including Plessy v. Ferguson.

Now it is the home of the Louisiana State Museum. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1960, though it was extensively damaged by a fire in 1988.

The Cabildo survived Hurricane Katrina and was used by the Louisiana State Police as Troop N in the days after the storm.

Postcards of the Cabildo are part of Collection 417, the Louisiana Postcard Collection.

View more photos on the Special Collections Facebook Page.

Fun Fact Friday is brought to you by Special Collections.

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