For the second time in Louisiana’s Old State Capitol’s history, the original French Exchange copy of the Louisiana Purchase Treaty, signed by Napoleon Bonaparte, will be on display.
This special exhibit, which will be open to the public April 14 to July 11, is titled “Bought For A Song: A Young Nation Expands.” The exhibit was preceded by the document’s visit in 1994, a celebration for the grand reopening of the building after extensive renovations. The exhibit is presented in both English and French, a reflection of Louisiana’s deeply-rooted French heritage.
Mary Durusau, executive director of Louisiana’s Old State Capitol museum, is thrilled to see the document’s return.
“While this is special to us because of the Louisiana Purchase document being here, we talk about the Louisiana Purchase all the time,” Durusau said. “Most people don’t realize how much this expanded the country.”
The Louisiana Purchase was a major turning point in American history. Signed on April 30, 1803, the treaty doubled the size of the country, bringing in people from many different nations across the world. It encompassed land that now spans across 15 states, despite the treaty lacking specific borders.
However, Tim Landry, an adjunct instructor of history at LSU, pointed out that the purchase did not actually include all of what is present-day Louisiana.
“It’s remarkable that significant parts of Louisiana today were not included in the original Louisiana Purchase,” Landry said.
This includes Florida Parish, which is home to Baton Rouge, East Feliciana Parish, Washington Parish and the North Shore. These areas were still considered Spanish territory in 1803.
In actuality, the Louisiana Purchase included Port Orleans and the land surrounding it that followed the Mississippi River northward.
The northern area included in the purchase is so expansive because the river encompasses North America’s largest drainage basin. In the North, there are various smaller rivers, or tributaries, that connect to the Mississippi River, draining down to the Gulf of Mexico through present-day Louisiana.
The French had captured the majority of the basin, with French explorer La Salle naming the entire territory “La Louisiane” in honor of King Louis XIV. Thus, when it was sold, it was named the Louisiana Purchase Treaty.
At the time of the sale, the plan was not to purchase the entire territory. However, negotiations led to what is considered by many as the greatest real estate deal in history.
“Napoleon Bonaparte, who had no interest in sending troops to defend all that territory, basically told the American delegation, ‘Why don’t I just sell you the whole shooting match?’” Landry said.
The agreement was made and the land sold for roughly $15 million, translating to around $340 million today. This led to a purchase that has been calculated to cost roughly 4 cents an acre — or around 64 to 79 cents an acre, adjusting for inflation — which is an incredibly cheap bill for approximately 530 million acres.
“And so that is the famous quote,” Durusau said. “‘Let the land rejoice, for you have bought Louisiana for a song.’”
Visitors of the museum can view the document in person, seeing the few sheets of parchment that changed the course of American history. The first week of viewing is reserved time slots only, so be sure to visit Louisiana’s Old State Capitol website to schedule a time.
“You get to see the actual signature of Napoleon Bonaparte and to know that this was the document that played such a significant part in American history and the development of America,” Landry said. “I don’t think you have to be a history nerd to appreciate that.”
