Baton Rouge Overview
Under vibrant sunsets over the Mississippi River in southern Louisiana lies Baton Rouge, where a lively culture, delicious restaurants, and a fascinating history combine to create the perfect microcosm of the Bayou State.
Politics is deeply entwined in the culture of Baton Rouge; it can be found both in the storied past of local dealmakers, showcased at the Old Louisiana State Capitol, and in the political history that is being written now inside the art deco skyscraper that serves as the current capitol. As home to the main campus of Louisiana State University and several smaller colleges, the city buzzes with the energy of youth while holding fast to its traditions in Southern lifestyle and historic sites. LSU’s home football games dominate the fall social calendar when fans perfect the art of tailgating and pack the immense Tiger Stadium. A revival is underway in the city center where attractions range from a riverfront casino to the USS Kidd floating museum to the ultra-contemporary Shaw Center for the Arts, which clusters an art museum, gallery spaces, theaters and restaurants in the heart of downtown.
Just a short drive from Baton Rouge, elaborate antebellum homes sit poised on sprawling grounds, reservoirs of the area’s history. Explore Magnolia Mound’s preserved buildings, including the house itself (now a museum), an open-hearth kitchen and a slave quarters. LSU’s Rural Life Museum reflects 18th and 19th century life, offering the largest collection of Louisiana Vernacular architecture, many period artifacts and several structures. At River Road African American Museum, discover 300 years of African American heritage and history through several exhibits that show off the museum’s extensive collection of items.