New Orleans is about to get a history lesson big enough to walk across. The Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Louisiana is bringing a massive interactive map to the riverfront as part of the nation’s 250th-anniversary commemoration. It is part exhibit, part civic lesson and, at more than 2,600 square feet, definitely not something visitors will breeze past.
The Giant Interactive Historical Map of the United States will make its public debut Monday and Tuesday, Aug. 17 and 18, at Spanish Plaza, according to Biz New Orleans. The three-dimensional installation covers the history, culture, landmarks and contributions of all 50 states, using more than 100 interactive QR codes, before appearing at HCCL’s Global Conference & Tradeshow in Kenner on Aug. 19.
A Map Built To Travel Beyond New Orleans
The project fits the chamber’s broader role as a nonprofit focused on economic development, education and connections between Louisiana, Spain and Latin America, according to the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Louisiana. HCCL was formed through a 1999 merger and has long worked to build the state’s Hispanic business community while helping other businesses connect with it.
The exhibit was inspired by an educational map discovered in Spain, with HCCL partnering with Spanish experts to bring the concept to Louisiana, Biz New Orleans reports. After the launch, the chamber plans to make the map available to schools, museums, conventions, cultural celebrations and community events, giving the oversized display a life well beyond its first New Orleans appearance.
Why The Gulf South Is The Launch Point
The timing places the project inside the official America250 effort marking the 250th anniversary of the United States, a national commemoration built around history, civic participation and the country’s many contributions. The Historic New Orleans Collection is also using the anniversary to examine Louisiana’s role in the American Revolution, including the importance of Spanish New Orleans to the fight for independence.
That local history is the exhibit’s real point: America’s origin story is bigger than the familiar 13-colony outline. Alongside the map’s public debut, HCCL will present “Untold Legacies: The Spanish Roots of American Independence” on Aug. 18 at The Historic New Orleans Collection, with a cultural panel, networking reception and live entertainment.
