LSU Rural Life Museum Visitor Center Grand Opening Held Jan. 15

LSU is proud to announce that the LSU Rural Life Museum officially opened its new 20,000-square-foot Visitor Center on Friday, Jan. 15. The new addition includes a lobby, restrooms, expanded gift shop, multi-use interpretive movie room, exhibit space, classroom/lecture space and administrative/volunteer offices.

The expansion and renovation of this facility is made possible by the Whispers of Change fundraising campaign, initiated by the Friends of the LSU Rural Life Museum. The campaign received more than $5 million in gifts to complete this transformative project for the LSU Rural Life Museum. The purpose of the new facility is to enhance the visitor experience, protect valuable collections and ensure the future growth success of the museum. Honorary chairs, John Barton Sr., Dr. Paul Murrill, Sue Turner and general chairs, John and Frances Monroe, led generous community support for the campaign.

"This is an important day for LSU and for our visitors from around the state and beyond," said LSU Rural Life Museum Director David Floyd. "We have a commitment to educate our students and visitors, and the completion of this building is an important step toward fulfilling our mission. I believe Steele and Ione Burden would be proud of what we have accomplished."

The LSU Rural Life Museum, often referred to as "Louisiana's best kept secret," is located on property donated to LSU by Ione, Steele and Mr. and Mrs. Pike Burden. Designers of the new facility took special care to preserve the rural setting and feel of "days gone by," as part of the Burden family's vision for the museum and gardens. The Rural Life Museum provides insight into the largely-forgotten lifestyle and culture of 18th and 19th century Louisianans. The museum features the largest collection of material culture of 19th century Louisiana and contains 32 historic buildings spread over the 25 acre complex.

The LSU Rural Life Museum is located at 4560 Essen Lane in Baton Rouge. Both the museum and 25 acres of Windrush Gardens are open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. year round; closed New Year's Day, Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. An admission fee is charged. Annual individual and family passes are available. For more information, call 225-765-2437 or visit http://rurallife.lsu.edu.

Support for the Whispers of Change campaign at the LSU Rural Life museum helps LSU achieve the goals of the university-wide Forever LSU campaign, an historic undertaking by LSU to attain more than $750 million in support for the university by the end of the year 2010. To find out to can join the campaign for LSU's future, visit www.foreverlsu.org.

Scott Madere is the director of public relations for the LSU Foundation. For more information regarding this story or the Forever LSU campaign, contact Madere at 225-578-3826 or e-mail, smadere@lsufoundation.org.