From the observation deck of the Louisiana State Capitol you can watch the Mississippi River bend past the petrochemical corridor to the south, with the Old State Capitol's castle turrets directly below you. That pairing — a 1920s Art Deco tower and a 19th-century Gothic Revival castle, a few blocks apart — is the quickest way to understand how Baton Rouge wears its layers.
The city suits travellers who want a compact capital to walk in the morning and a swamp boardwalk or a college campus in the afternoon. It also rewards anyone interested in Louisiana politics, military history or the state's complicated past.
This guide covers the sights and experiences named in the source material, ordered roughly as you would want to tackle them, plus a one-day plan and answers to the questions visitors ask most.
Top things to do in Baton Rouge
1. Louisiana State Capitol
Louisiana's state capitol building dominates the city's skyline. It is an Art Deco skyscraper built as part of the grand vision of Huey P. Long, the state's political boss of the 1920s and 1930s, who was assassinated in its halls.
Pair it with the Capitol Park Museum, which sits near the State Capitol, and with the Old State Capitol a short distance away. All three together give you the political story of the city in one stretch of walking.
2. Old State Capitol
This 19th-century castle served as the State Capitol before Huey P. Long built the new skyscraper, and it is now a museum. It stands at 100 North Blvd and is open Tuesday to Saturday, 9AM to 4PM.
Because it is a museum rather than a working government building, allow time inside rather than treating it as a photo stop. It is the natural companion to the Louisiana State Capitol.
3. USS Kidd
The USS Kidd is a WWII-era US Navy destroyer moored at 305 South River Rd in downtown Baton Rouge, and it offers tours. It is a real delight if you are a WWII or military enthusiast, or if you have children in tow.
It sits on the downtown riverfront, so combine it with the Louisiana Art and Science Museum at 100 S River Rd and the Louisiana State Capitol, both close by.
4. Louisiana State University (LSU)
LSU is the flagship university for Louisiana, and its Baton Rouge campus is over a century old. The campus is lush and green, with oaks as old as the campus itself, and historical Highland Road runs down a section of it, making the campus an easy visit for any tourist.
Must-sees include Tiger Stadium, the Indian Mounds, the Quad, the outdoor Greek Amphitheater and the acres of pedestrian-friendly grounds. Food is available on campus at the Student Union for visitors, or you can eat at The Chimes on Chimes Street, which runs parallel to the campus.
5. Mike the Tiger's Habitat
At 16 N Stadium Dr you can visit the live LSU tiger mascot in his habitat. It is a short, easy stop that fits naturally into a campus walk.
Combine it with the rest of the LSU campus, since the habitat sits on the same grounds as Tiger Stadium and the Quad.
6. Capitol Park Museum
Near the State Capitol at 660 N. 4th St, this museum features two floors of exhibits related to Louisiana culture. Among the curiosities are Louis Armstrong's first bugle, Huey P. Long's tombstone, and a Civil War Confederate submarine with a hand-cranked propeller.
Its position near the Louisiana State Capitol makes it the obvious second stop on a downtown morning.
7. Louisiana Art and Science Museum
At 100 S River Rd, this museum sits on the downtown riverfront. It is one of the anchors of the riverfront cluster of attractions.
Pair it with the USS Kidd at 305 South River Rd and the Louisiana State Capitol, all within the same downtown area.
8. Pentagon Barracks Museum
These barracks at 702 River Rd have been used by the Republic of West Florida, Spanish, French, British, Confederate States Army and United States Army over the years. The Pentagon Barracks complex of buildings was completed in 1822 and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.
It sits on River Road in the downtown government district, so it works well as a stop between the Louisiana State Capitol and the riverfront museums.
9. Veteran's Memorial Park
At 599 State Capitol Dr #523, this is a veterans memorial and old arsenal museum, open daily 6AM to 9PM. Capitol Lake is right behind it.
Because it opens early and closes late, it is a flexible stop to slot in around the State Capitol and the Pentagon Barracks Museum.
10. Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center
At 10503 N. Oak Hills Parkway, this center features wildlife and ecology exhibits and a 65-acre cypress-tupelo swamp navigable by boardwalk, filled with wildlife such as birds, bobcats, foxes, turtles and alligators. It is open Tuesday to Saturday 9AM to 5PM and Sunday noon to 5PM, closed Monday. Admission is $3 for adults, $2.50 for aged 65 and over, $2 for ages 3 to 17, and free for ages 2 and younger.
Go on a day when you want to be outdoors rather than downtown, and note the Monday closure when you plan.
11. LSU Rural Life Museum
At 4560 Essen Ln, admission includes access to an indoor museum, an outdoor collection of historical structures and some reconstructions, and a botanical garden. The historical structures include slave quarters previously owned by one of the founders of the LSU.
If you are interested in the history of slavery and the period thereafter, be aware that you may find some of the interpretive signage whitewashes the treatment of African Americans.
12. Louisiana Governor's Mansion
The Governor's Mansion is at 1001 Capitol Access Rd. It is one of the state government landmarks grouped with the capitol buildings.
It fits into the same downtown circuit as the Louisiana State Capitol and the Pentagon Barracks Museum.
13. Magnolia Mound Plantation House
This plantation house stands at 2161 Nicholson Dr. It is one of the historic houses in the city.
It sits on Nicholson Drive, so plan it as a separate stop rather than folding it into a downtown walk.
14. Shaw Center for the Arts
At 100 Lafayette St, this is the city's newest major performing arts complex. It features the Manship Theatre, the LSU Museum of Art's rotating exhibitions, rotating events from the Manship Theatre, and the LSU School of Art Flassell Gallery.
Onsite dining includes Tsunamis, Capitol City Grill, PJ's Coffee and Stroubes, and there is a rooftop sushi restaurant. Check what is on before you go, since the exhibitions and events rotate.
15. Red Stick Farmers Market
Held at 501 Main St on Fifth Street between Main and North Street, this market runs Saturday mornings from 8AM to noon. It is operated by BREADA (Big River Economic and Agricultural Development Alliance) and is a producer-only market with over 50 vendors, open in conjunction with The Main Street Market.
Going to the market is a good way to experience culture and goods from local vendors and farmers. Because it is a Saturday morning event, build your day around it rather than trying to squeeze it in later.
If you only have one day
Morning. Start at the Red Stick Farmers Market on Main Street if your visit falls on a Saturday, since it runs 8AM to noon. From there, walk to the Old State Capitol on North Blvd, which opens at 9AM Tuesday to Saturday, then continue to the Louisiana State Capitol and the Capitol Park Museum nearby. If your visit is not on a Saturday, begin at the Old State Capitol instead and give the downtown government district the full morning.
Afternoon. Head to the riverfront for the USS Kidd at 305 South River Rd and the Louisiana Art and Science Museum at 100 S River Rd. If you would rather be outdoors, spend the afternoon at Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center instead, but check the day first: it is closed Monday and opens at noon on Sunday.
Evening. Return downtown to the Shaw Center for the Arts at 100 Lafayette St, where the onsite dining includes Tsunamis, Capitol City Grill, PJ's Coffee and Stroubes, and where you can check what the Manship Theatre and the LSU Museum of Art have on. If you are in town for an LSU home game, the tailgating around campus is an evening in itself.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Red Stick Farmers Market open?
Saturday mornings from 8AM to noon, at 501 Main St on Fifth Street between Main and North Street. It runs in conjunction with The Main Street Market.
Is Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center open every day?
No. It is open Tuesday to Saturday 9AM to 5PM and Sunday noon to 5PM, and closed Monday. Admission is $3 for adults, $2.50 for aged 65 and over, $2 for ages 3 to 17, and free for ages 2 and younger.
What can I see at the Capitol Park Museum?
Two floors of exhibits related to Louisiana culture, including Louis Armstrong's first bugle, Huey P. Long's tombstone, and a Civil War Confederate submarine with a hand-cranked propeller. It is near the State Capitol at 660 N. 4th St.
Where can I eat on or near the LSU campus?
Food is available on campus at the Student Union for visitors, or you can eat at The Chimes, which is on Chimes Street running parallel to the LSU campus.
Pick your dates around the Saturday market or an LSU home game, and the rest of the city falls into place from there.