Employee Spotlight: Hayden Battle's Journey Across America

For Tulane Libraries’ very own Hayden Battle, traveling has always been more of a passion than a plan. It wasn’t until he’d already checked off most states from his travel list that he decided to intentionally visit them all. “I didn’t start out planning to visit all 50 states,” Hayden explained, “I just like to take trips. At a certain point, I realized I was getting close, so I decided to make it a goal.” 

An avid traveler and lover of history, Hayden, who earned his master’s in history and Master of Library Science from the University of South Carolina, has always sought adventure. He credits much of his early travel experience to a monumental expedition inspired by Lewis and Clark, a journey that took him all the way to the Pacific Ocean, significantly boosting his state count. 

In the summer of 2019, after attending an American Library Association conference in Washington D.C., Hayden realized only a few states remained on his list: Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Alaska, and Hawaii. Despite delays caused by the pandemic, Hayden persisted, ultimately marking Hawaii as his 50th state on his 50th birthday (March 23rd). It was a unique “triple whammy” Hawaii being the 50th state to join the union added extra significance to the milestone. 

So, what’s next for Hayden after conquering all 50 states? “I absolutely love national parks,” Hayden says enthusiastically. On his bucket list remains trips back to Yellowstone, exploring southern parts of Arizona and New Mexico, visiting Death Valley, journeying down to Key West, and finally experiencing the Everglades. But the next big adventure he dreams of is overseas. Having already explored Germany, Austria, and England, he’s eager to venture further into Europe, particularly Italy, Greece, France, and Scandinavia. 

Congratulations, Hayden, on this incredible accomplishment, your passion and exploration inspires us all at Tulane Libraries! 

Liev Block

4/9/2025