Shonna Moss, director of the Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame, has received the Pelican of Distinction Award from Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser and the Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, a statewide honor recognizing leadership in promoting Louisiana as a travel destination.

Moss was recognized for elevating the Political Museum, the City of Winnfield and the region’s political and cultural heritage. As director, she has led initiatives that spotlight Winnfield as the “Birthplace of Huey P. Long” and a cornerstone of Louisiana political history.

Beyond the museum, Moss serves on the Winn Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Board and has worked for years to boost community events and the parish’s visibility. She plays an instrumental role each year in supporting the Fall Festival, the Christmas parade and Uncle Earl’s Hog Dog Trials, a signature event that draws visitors from across the country.

She is a regular at tourism and culture conferences statewide, promoting Winnfield’s attractions and the museum’s legacy. Her outreach extends beyond Louisiana; she is scheduled to speak to more than 200 Rotarians in Huntsville, Alabama, in April 2026.

The museum’s annual Louisiana Political Hall of Fame Banquet also brings statewide attention to Winnfield. The event honors distinguished political figures and public servants and, every third year, returns to Winnfield, filling the town with hundreds of guests and new tourism dollars.

Nungesser praised this year’s honorees as “ambassadors who make Louisiana shine.” Moss said the recognition reflects a community effort. “This award really belongs to so many people here in Winnfield, who work to bring back what Winnfield once had and can have again,” she shared. “Our community has a proud history and an even brighter future. Every visitor who walks through the museum doors experiences a piece of Louisiana’s story, and that story always begins right here in Winnfield.”

The award highlights how local leadership strengthens Louisiana’s tourism economy. With Moss and her staff, the Political Museum continues to preserve history while helping promote all that makes Winnfield and Louisiana stand out.