Spotlight: Baton Rouge, LA

Spotlight: Baton Rouge, the capital of Louisiana, is the second most populous city in the state. Located on the eastern bank of the Mississippi, Baton Rouge was built on the first natural bluff upriver from the Mississippi Delta, thus avoiding many of the flooding issues that afflict New Orleans. The region was settled by immigrants from several European nations during the colonial era: the French, Spanish and British, before being purchased by the United States as part of the Louisiana Purchase. The city's unique name came from a French expedition in 1698. The explorers noted a red pole at the site, marking the boundary between the Houma and Bayagoula tribal hunting grounds, and named the area Baton Rouge: bâton (stick) and rouge (red). European settlement of the area began in 1721 when French colonists established a military fort and trading post there. Many of the Acadians (deported from Acadia by the British) took up residence in the area in 1755. In 1846, the state legislature designated Baton Rouge as the state capital in an effort to wrest control away from the "corrupt" influences of New Orleans, despite the fact that the population of New Orleans (102,000) was more than 40 times bigger than that of Baton Rouge (2,269). 

Activities: The Louisiana State Capitol in downtown Baton Rouge is 450 feet tall (34 stories) making it the tallest Capitol Building in the nation. The Capitol building was the pet project of governor Huey Long, who was elected governor as the populist candidate. Long wanted a new capitol building to symbolize the end of the political domination of Louisiana's traditional social and economic elite. The building was completed in 1931, at a cost of $5 million, and is located on a 27-acre tract of land that includes the beautiful Capitol Gardens. Long was so proud of the new Capitol, that he proclaimed that the only building that rivaled its architectural beauty was St. Peter's Cathedral in Rome, Italy. Only four years after it's completion, Long was assassinated in the Capitol building itself by Dr. Carl Weiss, whose apparent motivation was to keep his father-in-law (a judge) from being gerrymandered out of office by Long. Some of the stray bullet holes are still visible in columns outside the governor's office.

The New Capitol Building

The Capitol Gardens

     One of the most unique features of the Capitol building are the labeled stairs leading up to the entrance. Each of the 49 steps has the name of a state with its year of induction into the nation in chronological order, with the final step labeled for Alaska and Hawaii. The Observation Deck is located on the 27th floor, and can get quite windy even when there isn't much wind at ground level.

The 49 Steps of Statehood

A view of the Mississippi from the Observation Deck

Location: 900 North Third Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70802

Hours: 8-4:30 pm daily (except major holidays)

Cost: Free

Rating: 3.5 stars

Activities: The Old Louisiana State Capitol, also known as the State House, was built to look and function like a castle. When the state legislature decided to move the capital from New Orleans to Baton Rouge, the city donated a $20,000 tract of land, on a bluff overlooking the Mississippi River, for the construction of a capitol building. New York architect James H. Dakin was hired to design the building, and chose to model it after a Neo-Gothic medieval castle. During the Civil War, Union troops captured the city of Baton Rouge and used the Old Capitol as a prison, and later as a garrison. As a result the building was ravished by war and fire. By 1882, the Old Capitol Building was rebuilt, including the installation of a spiral staircase and stained glass dome. It served as the Capitol building for 50 more years, when it was replaced by the New Capitol Building. Since then, the Old Capitol has been converted into a museum and hosts a variety of functions.

Old Louisiana State Capitol

Stain Glass Dome

Statue of Jean Baptiste Le Moyne
de Bienville - Founder of New Orleans

Location: 100 North Blvd., Baton Rouge, LA 70801

Hours: Tues. - Fri. 10 am. - 4 pm., Sat. 9 am. - 3 pm.

Cost: Free

Rating: 3.5 stars

Activities: Brec's Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center is located in a swamp inside the Baton Rouge city limits. The Nature Center is located within the Bluebonnet Swamp Conservation Area (103 acres) and works under the philosophy of "conservation, education, recreation and tourism." As part of this mission, it houses a variety of live animals found within the swamp, including baby alligators, to care for the animals and educate the public about their roles in the fragile ecosystem. The center also maintains more than a mile of gravel paths and boardwalks that allow visitors to wander safely through the different habitats and view the plants and animals living there. The animals that periodically live within the swamp include: snakes, turtles, raccoons, rabbits, opossums, armadillos, squirrels, foxes, coyotes, deer, otter and hundreds of species of birds.

Worker giving a presentation on alligators

Boardwalk path in the Bluebonnet Swamp

Wildlife siting

Location: 10503 N Oak Hills Pkwy, Baton Rouge, LA 70810

Hours: Tues. - Sat. 9 am. - 5 pm., Sun. noon - 5 pm.

Cost: $3/adult, $2/child

Rating: 3 stars

Things You Should Know:

- St. Joseph's Cathedral is located near the State Capitol building. It has some beautiful stain glass window displays that are worth a view if you have the time.

Stain glass windows in St. Joseph's Cathedral

- Down the hill from the Old State Capitol is the Irene W. Pennington Planetarium. We happened to be there while the museum area was displaying an Egyptian exhibit which we enjoyed immensely. We also saw a movie on Egypt in their 60-foot dome theater. I would have highlighted the Planetarium and Museum, but all the pictures I took were of the Egyptian exhibit which is only on display until Aug. 1, 2025. However, I would give the planetarium a 4 star rating.

Egyptian exhibit at the Pennington Planetarium

- Pets are not allowed in Brec's Bluebonnet Swamp except on designated days. To find out about those days, call: 225-757-8905

- Louisiana State University is also located in Baton Rouge. There is a live tiger exhibit on campus that is worth a peek if you are in the area; but if you go during the heat of the day, Mike the Tiger will probably be napping.

Mike the Tiger

Nearby: Tammany Trace Bike Path, New Orleans, Destrehan Plantation, Oak Alley Plantation, Laura Plantation