(COMING SOON) Bought For A Song: A Young Nation Expands

Exhibition Overview

The Louisiana Purchase is widely considered to be the greatest real estate deal in history. In 1803, the United States acquired 828,000 square miles of land from France for $15 million dollars. This purchase nearly doubled the size of the United States, making it one of the largest nations in the world. The newly acquired land expanded west of the Mississippi River to the Rocky Mountains and from the Gulf of Mexico to the Canadian border. This territory made up all or part of fifteen modern states.

A rare opportunity, the Louisiana Purchase agreement will be on display as part of America’s commemoration of the 250^th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. This is only the second time this historic document has been on view at the Old State Capitol. The last showing was in 1994 during the old statehouse’s grand opening as a museum following a major building renovation.

Opening Week Reservations

For the exhibition's opening week (April 14-April 18, 2026) we kindly ask that visitors reserve a time slot to view the document. You can reserve your spot at the button above. 

Learn More

The Louisiana Purchase consists of three separate agreements between the United States and France, the Treaty of Cession and documents related to two conventions regarding financial agreements. On loan from the National Archives, the French exchange copy of the second convention articulates the settlement of an earlier debt owed by France to the United States. 

To view the document, visit ​“French Exchange Copy of the Convention Between the Republic of France and the United States of America to Secure the Payment of the Sums Due by France to the Citizens of the United States” on the National Archives Catalog website. 

To read the documents, go to ​“Louisiana Purchase Treaty” which is also on the National Archives Catalog website.