BATON ROUGE, LA — Today, the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) announced the LSU Center for River Studies would join local museums participating in First Free Sunday, an opportunity for Baton Rouge residents and city visitors to enjoy unique cultural exhibitions throughout the city admission-free.

Beginning Sunday, March 1, and continuing on the first Sunday of each month, the LSU Center for River Studies will open from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. First Free Sunday visitors are invited to explore the award-winning coastal-themed exhibit space and river model. Visitors will have the opportunity to attend a unique educational presentation using world-class projector equipment. Shows will begin every half-hour during the open house. CPRA staff will be on-hand throughout the day to lead discussions and answer questions. 

The LSU Center for River Studies is located on the Baton Rouge Water Campus near the banks of the Mississippi River. It houses one of the world's largest movable bed physical models - the Lower Mississippi River Physical Model. The model represents the 179 mile stretch of the Mississippi River running from Donaldsonville to the Gulf of Mexico.

The State of Louisiana is actively collecting research from the river model to inform decisions on how to better protect and preserve its coastal wetlands. The model spans 10,000 square feet and is based on the actual topography and bathymetry of the Mississippi River Delta. It is used to study how river water and sediment can build land, and how that process would affect the river.

The Center’s interactive exhibit space offers opportunities for guests of all ages to learn more about the history of the Mississippi River, Louisiana’s disappearing wetlands, and ongoing coastal restoration projects across the coast. 

Parking is available adjacent to the Center on Arches Street as well as in the parking lot on Water Street. For more information, visit http://coastal.la.gov/center-for-river-studies/. Email RiverModel@la.gov with questions regarding the open house.

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