A Vanishing Bounty
Louisiana’s Coastal Environment and Culture
Discover the beauty and history of Louisiana’s natural environment—as well as the threats to its continued existence.
520 Royal Street
Seignouret-Brulatour Building
2nd Floor
Included with free museum admission
In the marshes of Louisiana, where sediment-rich water mingles with the salt water of the Gulf of Mexico, plants, insects, and animals coexist within a thriving ecosystem to which humans have also adapted. Waves of people—of Indigenous, African, European, and Asian origin—have shaped the region’s culture and its ways of life. We share this place with a bountiful marine population, migratory and year-round birds, and such charismatic animals as the alligator and the crawfish.
The coastal region’s rich animal life and other natural resources have made it an attractive place for human habitation. But coastal industries are a double-edged sword. The area is threatened by a number of factors—erosion caused by oil exploration and the destruction of cypress swamps, invasive species that threaten to crowd out native plants and animals, and climate change, which raises sea levels and creates stronger hurricanes.
Through images, objects, and interactive multimedia installations, A Vanishing Bounty: Louisiana’s Coastal Environment and Culture will address both the region’s abundance of natural life and the threats to its welfare. Visitors will experience the beauty and utility of cypress forests, learn of the peoples of the coast and their adaptations to its ecosystems, and see (and hear) the wildlife that inhabits the region’s land, air, and water.
From a rare second edition of John James Audubon’s double-elephant folio The Birds of America (one of the most important works of natural history ever created) to a selection of the beautiful duck decoys from the Stephens Family Collection, A Vanishing Bounty will tell a story rich in history, nature, culture, and caution.
Support
The exhibition is made possible with support from the following sponsors.
Related Shortcut Talks
Shortcuts are free, daily talks that explore Gulf South history and culture through the lens of our exhibitions.
More Than Mud and Water: Why Our Wetlands Matter
Join us for this Exhibition Shortcut exploring how Louisiana’s wetlands nourish and protect wildlife and humans alike.
Sewers & Sidewalks: The Pumps That Sank New Orleans
Join us for this Exhibition Shortcut exploring how innovations that helped the city grow now pose a threat to its residents.
Related Exhibitions
Edge of Tomorrow: Aerial Views of Louisiana’s Changing Coastline by Ben Depp
Related Stories
How Nutria Took Over Louisiana
What started as a South American import to bolster the fur economy became an invasive threat. From sporting shootouts to nutria gumbo, the state has struggled to cope.
A Pandemic of Pigs
From New Orleans to Hong Kong, wild hogs are wreaking havoc on habitats. HNOC explains how they first arrived and came to thrive.
Related Collection Highlights
Audubon’s “Birds of America”
John James Audubon’s masterpiece of naturalist art is on display in a double-elephant folio as part of HNOC’s ongoing exhibition A Vanishing Bounty.
Zanatta Editions Environmental Art Prints
A collection of prints by Jacqueline Bishop and Douglas Bourgeois, donated by art publisher Zanatta Editions, probes the complex relationship between humans and the natural environment.
Related Books
Enigmatic Stream: Industrial Landscapes of the Lower Mississippi River
by Richard Sexton
with essays by Paul Schneider and John H. Lawrence
Shop the A Vanishing Bounty Collection
Browse our curated collection of products inspired by A Vanishing Bounty, now available from the Shop at the Collection.
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