NEW ORLEANS (press release) – With the New Orleans Saints headed to the playoffs and the LSU Tigers preparing for a title game against Clemson University, there is no shortage of football parties in south Louisiana, but The Historic New Orleans Collection – a regional history museum located in the French Quarter – is adding one more soirée to the schedule.
THNOC will host a free viewing party with the College Football Playoff National Championship Trophy on Friday, Jan. 10, from 5 to 8 p.m. as part of its current exhibition “Crescent City Sport: Stories of Courage and Change.” Fans from both teams and curious onlookers are invited see – and take photos with – the official prize before it’s awarded to the winning team.
While the addition of the College Football Playoff National Championship Trophy is a one-night-only appearance, guests will be able to pose for photos with all of the hardware on view in the exhibition, including a replica of the 1924 Kentucky Derby trophy, the original Sugar Bowl trophy awarded in 1935, the stately Lipton Cup presented to sailing champions and the original Tiffany-crafted Vince Lombardi Trophy awarded to the Saints following the team’s victory at Super Bowl XLIV in February 2010.
Handmade from 24-karat gold, bronze, and stainless steel, the College Football Playoff National Championship Trophy stands 26.5 inches tall. It is fabricated over three months by the master fine art foundry Polich Tallix, and its sleek, modern design was envisioned by the design studio Pentagram.
THNOC’s exhibition “Crescent City Sport: Stories of Courage and Change,” was planned to coincide with the city’s hosting of the national college football championship game, although no one could foresee a Louisiana team would be a title contender or the record-breaking season that LSU would come to experience. Add the New Orleans Saints successes, and it feels as though the stars are aligning for a sports-themed retrospective.
Featuring more than 200 objects, the exhibition highlights 20 stories from 10 sports that influenced the Crescent City.
“Sports are often viewed as a topic not worthy of serious historical study” said Mark Cave, who curated the exhibition. “But reflecting on these sporting events is like holding a mirror to our community as its story has unfolded. These events show us who we are, how we’ve changed and, sometimes, where we’re going.”
“Crescent City Sport” spans 150 years, from the end of the Civil War through the early 21st century. Through brief vignettes about baseball, basketball, boxing, cycling, football, horse racing, roller derby, rowing, sailing and tennis, museum visitors will see the parallels organized sports have shared with local history. Sports frequently reflected the city’s slow and often reluctant progress toward racial and gender inclusion while laying the foundation for New Orleans’s growth into a major tourist destination. Individual narratives introduce the players, the stakes and the subplots of each story, while the artifacts immerse visitors into the experiences of the athletes and underscore the significance of the outcomes.
“Crescent City Sport: Stories of Courage and Change” is on view at THNOC’s new exhibition center at 520 Royal Street. The galleries are regularly open Tuesday–Saturday, 9:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m., and Sunday, 10:30 a.m. –4:30 p.m. Extended gallery hours will be offered Friday, Jan. 10, from 5 to 8 p.m., and ahead of the college championship game on Monday, Jan. 13, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free, and the display will remain on view through Sunday, March 8.
The exhibition is sponsored by the Gayle and Tom Benson Charitable Foundation with additional support from Tulane University, Tulane University Athletics and Allstate Sugar Bowl, as well as Amy and Chuck Lapeyre, David P. Schulingkamp and Linda and Tommy Westfeldt II.
Related programming
Jan. 13, 11 a.m.–4 p.m.
520 Royal St.
Admission is free.
Before the College Football Playoff National Championship (Jan. 13), THNOC is opening its doors for extended museum hours. Visitors will have the opportunity to explore all aspects of the new exhibition center at 520 Royal St., including the museum shop. As part of “Crescent City Sport: Stories of Courage and Change,” visitors can take photos with the original Vince Lombardi Trophy awarded to the New Orleans Saints following their victory at Super Bowl XLIV, enjoy interactive experiences and have fun with family activity guides.
College Football Playoff National Championship Trophy Viewing
Friday, Jan. 10, 5–8 p.m.
520 Royal St.
Admission is free.
See the official National College Football Playoff championship trophy before it’s awarded to the winning team. On Friday, Jan. 10, from 5 to 8 p.m., the trophy will be on view for one night only at The Historic New Orleans Collection as part of the exhibition “Crescent City Sport: Stories of Courage and Change.” Exhibition galleries will be open for extended evening hours, and visitors will be able to pose for photos with both the national championship trophy and the Lombardi Trophy from Super Bowl XLIV. Admission is free. The Shop at The Collection and Café Cour will be open from 5 to 8 p.m. as well.
Crescent City Sport: The 24th Williams Research Center Symposium
Saturday, Jan. 18, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
Hotel Monteleone, 214 Royal St.
Admission starts at $50. Visit my.hnoc.org for more information.
In conjunction with the exhibition “Crescent City Sport: Stories of Courage and Change,” THNOC presents its 2020 Williams Research Center Symposium. The program explores a different topic of Louisiana history each year, and the subject of sports takes the spotlight in 2020. Former sports broadcaster Jim Henderson will moderate the event, which will include presentations from authors Sue Macy (cycling), Krista Langley (Native American sports), S. Derby Gisclair (boxing), and Katherine C. Mooney (horse racing). The program will conclude with a conversation with John Mecom Jr., the original owner of the New Orleans Saints. Admission to the program ranges from $50-$90 and includes two receptions. Participants may reserve their seats online at my.hnoc.org or by calling (504) 598-7146.
Screening of the film “Number One,” with an introduction by Archie Manning
Wednesday, Jan. 22, 6 p.m.
410 Chartres St.
Admission is $10; $5 for THNOC members; and free for members of THNOC’s Caillot Circle, Mahalia, Jackson, Laussat Society, and Bienville Circle.
Join us for a screening of “Number One,” the 1969 film starring Charlton Heston as an aging quarterback for the New Orleans Saints struggling to let the game go. Jessica Walter and Bruce Dern co-star. Archie Manning, Saints quarterback from 1971 to 1982, will introduce the film and reflect on his memorable career in the NFL. Admission to the program ranges from $50-$90 and includes two receptions. Participants may reserve seats online at my.hnoc.org or by calling (504) 598-7146.
