Spring Street Historical Museum Unveils African-American Equality Exhibit Highlighting Civil Rights Struggles in Shreveport

African-American Equality Exhibit Unveiled at Spring Street Historical Museum

An incisive new museum exhibit dedicated to the African-American struggle for equality is now available for viewing at the Spring Street Historical Museum in Shreveport, a property managed by LSUS (Louisiana State University Shreveport). The exhibit, entitled “The Struggle for African-American Equality in Shreveport”, will be open until February 29.

“The exhibit encompasses the period from Reconstruction through to the Civil Rights Movement,” said Claudia Finley, operations manager for the museum. “Our aim is to honor those African-Americans who have committed their lives to the pursuit of equality in Shreveport, particularly those whose names have been forgotten in the annals of history until now.”

An interactive digital map from the Clio app, displaying crucial Civil Rights landmarks, and an exhaustive digital exhibition featuring the history of the era, are two highlights of this exhibit.

Permanent Exhibit on Civil Rights Heritage Trail

Complementing this is a permanent exhibit, based on the research conducted by LSUS history professor Dr. Gary Joiner in creating the Civil Rights Heritage Trail. This exhibit provides an interactive exploration of significant landmarks, events, and personalities of the Caddo Parish Civil Rights Movement.

Photographs from the Northwest Louisiana Archives and historical descriptions of key figures and places extend the content of the interactive map.

About the Museum

The Spring Street Historical Museum is situated in downtown Shreveport, near the intersection of Spring and Milam (525 Spring Street). The museum welcomes visitors from Tuesday to Saturday, between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Admission is free of charge.

Notably, the building housing the museum is itself a historic artifact — potentially the oldest surviving structure from the original town. Built in 1866 as Tally’s Bank, the original vault is astonishingly still intact, despite no banking activities taking place in the building since 1903.

Visitors to the museum have the unique opportunity to delve into the rich history of African-American struggles for equality, within the historic walls of a significant Shreveport landmark. This exhibit helps to bring to the forefront those unsung heroes who fought tirelessly for civil rights, putting a spotlight on a pivotal period in Shreveport’s history.