Since 1872, revelers on Mardi Gras Day have danced to the tune “If Ever I Cease to Love” and waved to the self-proclaimed “King of Carnival” as the Rex parade wound its way through the city of New Orleans. To mark the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Rex, The Historic New Orleans Collection unveils Fit for a King, an exhibition showcasing jewels, favors, doubloons, float designs, and more from THNOC’s Rex-related holdings, which number in the thousands.

Presented in conjunction with the large-scale Making Mardi Gras exhibition at 520 Royal Street, Fit for a King is part of THNOC’s spring exploration of the creativity that Carnival season conjures.