BATON ROUGE, LA.- The Louisiana Art & Science Museum announced the opening of its newest exhibition, Crossroads & Connections: A Century of the Railway in Baton Rouge, now on view in the Republic Finance Gallery. Marking the 100th anniversary of the historic train depot the museum calls home, this commemorative exhibition reflects on the critical role the railway played in shaping Baton Rouge’s growth, economy, and cultural identity throughout the 20th century.
Housed in the former Yazoo & Mississippi Valley Railroad Depot, LASM is uniquely situated to tell this story. Completed in 1925 and considered one of the most architecturally significant depots in Louisiana, the building serves as both a monument to the golden age of rail travel and a living space for art, science, and education. Trains no longer depart from the station, but the legacy of connection endures—now through exhibitions that inspire reflection, learning, and community engagement.
Crossroads & Connections immerses visitors in the world of early rail travel through a compelling blend of artworks, archival photographs, maps, artifacts, and personal stories. It traces the evolution of the railway from its early days as a lifeline for towns across the Mississippi Delta to its influence on social movements, migration patterns, commerce, and even music. From the rhythm of the blues to the clang of the mail-on the-fly system, visitors will explore how trains moved not just people and goods, but ideas, opportunities, and culture across Louisiana and beyond. “This depot has witnessed it all: departures, arrivals, war, prosperity, and reinvention,” states LASM Curator and Director of Art Programs, Tracey Barhorst. “Crossroads & Connections celebrates not just the building’s 100-year history, but the vital role trains played in connecting communities, carrying culture, and creating opportunity.”
This exhibition continues the museum’s mission to bring together art, science, and history in ways that are meaningful and accessible to all audiences. A series of public programs, family workshops, and guided tours will accompany the exhibition, offering further opportunities for engagement, dialogue, and reflection.
Crossroads & Connections: A Century of the Railway in Baton Rouge is generously supported by Entergy; Union Pacific; the Baton Rouge Area Foundation; and the Alma Lee, Norman and Cary Saurage Fund of the Baton Rouge Area Foundation.
