Capitol Park Welcome Center The main meeting room in the Capitol Park Welcome Center is named after Margaret Taylor, wife of U.S. President Zachary Taylor. The couple resided in a small house near the present day location of Capitol Park until Taylor was elected to the Presidency. Learn More >>

Mission:
The mission of the Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism is to preserve and enhance Louisiana's unique heritage and natural landscape; provide cultural, informational, and recreational resources; and promote the use of these resources by our diverse citizens and visitors.

Goals:
The Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism is administered by the Secretary under the jurisdiction of the Lieutenant Governor, who serves as the Commissioner of the Department. The Department has four goals:

1. The Department will create a greater awareness of Louisiana's culture, history, and natural resources so that citizens and visitors will be more aware of the rich cultural, historical, and natural assets of the state.
   
2. The Department will promote the tourism and arts industries in Louisiana so that these industries will have a greater economic impact on the state.
   
3. The Department will improve the state's management and conservation of significant historical, natural, informational, and cultural sites and resources so that they will be better protected for future generations.
   
4. The Department will provide opportunities for outdoor recreation in Louisiana so that there will be an increased number of citizens and visitors who are aware of, have access to, and who utilize and appreciate the state's natural beauty.
   

Agencies:
The Department’s five agencies—Tourism, State Parks, Cultural Development, State Museums, and the State Library—work together to make educational resources available, conserve and interpret our history, support the arts and develop recreational opportunities. The Department also fuels economic growth through tourism, operates programs which generate state and local tax revenues, and provides a stable, non-polluting source of outside income for the state.