Friends of the Cabildo

Friends of the Cabildo
Name	Friends of the Cabildo
Formation	1960s
Type	Nonprofit organization
Purpose	Historic preservation, museum support
Headquarters	New Orleans
Location	Louisiana
Region served	French Quarter, New Orleans
Leader title	Executive Director
Affiliations	The Cabildo (New Orleans), Louisiana State Museum, Historic New Orleans Collection

Friends of the Cabildo is a nonprofit preservation and support organization associated with The Cabildo (New Orleans), a landmark museum and historic building on Jackson Square (New Orleans). It operates within the cultural ecosystem of New Orleans alongside institutions such as the Preservation Resource Center of New Orleans, Historic New Orleans Collection, and Tulane University museums, engaging with national bodies like the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the Smithsonian Institution. The organization has coordinated projects that intersect with events such as Mardi Gras, the Hurricane Katrina, and civic initiatives tied to Louisiana heritage tourism.

History

Founded in the wake of mid-20th century preservation movements rooted in responses to urban renewal and threats exemplified by demolitions in Boston and New York City, the organization emerged amid contemporaneous efforts by groups like Metropolitan Museum of Art supporters and the American Institute of Architects. Early boards included preservation advocates who worked with municipal leaders from New Orleans City Council and cultural policymakers connected to Louisiana State University and the Louisiana Division of Historic Preservation. The group’s timeline intersects with major preservation milestones such as listings on the National Register of Historic Places and partnerships formed during federal programs under administrations like the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Park Service.

Mission and Activities

The group’s stated mission centers on supporting The Cabildo (New Orleans) through fundraising, advocacy, and programmatic assistance, aligning with broader aims of organizations like the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the American Alliance of Museums. Activities include grantwriting for infrastructure compatible with standards promulgated by the Secretary of the Interior (United States), curatorial collaborations with entities such as the Smithsonian Institution and the Gibbes Museum of Art, and public campaigns echoing advocacy seen in cases like the preservation of Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. The organization liaises with municipal bodies including the Mayor of New Orleans and state agencies like the Louisiana Office of Cultural Development.

Collections and Exhibitions

While not a collecting museum in its own right, the organization supports exhibitions at The Cabildo (New Orleans), contributing to displays that reference artifacts linked to the Louisiana Purchase and figures such as Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville and Andrew Jackson. Collaborations have involved loans and exhibits with partners including the Historic New Orleans Collection, New Orleans Museum of Art, and archival repositories like the Library of Congress and the Tulane University Special Collections. The organization has supported thematic exhibitions comparable to those at institutions like the National WWII Museum and the Metropolitan Museum of Art that explore topics from colonial encounters to 19th-century urban development.

Educational Programs and Community Outreach

Programming emphasizes school partnerships with systems including the Orleans Parish School Board and higher-education collaborations with Tulane University, Loyola University New Orleans, and Xavier University of Louisiana. Outreach has included lecture series featuring historians associated with the American Historical Association, walking tours akin to offerings by the French Quarter Management District, and curriculum development tied to standards from the Louisiana Department of Education. Community partnerships have extended to cultural organizations such as the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival organizers, the Preservation Resource Center of New Orleans, and neighborhood groups active in the French Quarter.

Governance and Funding

Governance typically comprises a volunteer board drawn from civic leaders, preservation professionals, and donors connected to institutions like the Tulane University School of Architecture, Southeastern Louisiana University, and the Historic New Orleans Collection board. Financial support blends private philanthropy from foundations similar to the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, corporate giving by firms with regional presence, membership dues, and grants from public funders including the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Louisiana Division of the Arts. Accountability aligns with nonprofit standards observed by the Internal Revenue Service for 501(c)(3) organizations and reporting conventions used by the National Center for Charitable Statistics.

Notable Projects and Preservation Efforts

Notable efforts include conservation work on structural fabric of The Cabildo (New Orleans) itself, interpretive projects about the Louisiana Purchase and colonial governance, and emergency response collaborations during crises like Hurricane Katrina. The organization has partnered on seismic and envelope stabilization projects conceptually similar to interventions at Independence Hall and the Alamo and has supported archival initiatives resonant with work at the Library of Congress and the National Archives and Records Administration. It has engaged with city-level initiatives involving the New Orleans Landmarks Commission and federal programs such as grants administered through the National Park Service and the Historic American Buildings Survey.

Category:Historic preservation organizations in the United States Category:Non-profit organizations based in New Orleans