Baton Rouge is set on the banks of the Mississippi River and is home to many cultural and historical attractions, including the USS Kidd-the destroyer, the Old State Capitol, Magnolia Plantation and beautiful old mansions. There is plenty to do and see in the Capital City for visitors of every age. Immerse yourself in the history, art, culture and nature of the city and check out the wide variety of local tourist spots!
Discover rural heritage, culture and lifestyle at Burden Museum and Gardens!
Image By Shanna Riley (Flickr: LSU Rural Life Museum Trip) [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Burden Museum and Gardens include Windrush Garden, Rural Life Museum and AgCenter Botanic Gardens. LSU Rural Life Museum showcases the culture and lifestyle of pre-industrial Louisiana. It features household tools, furniture, farming equipments, slave items, vehicles, and other artifacts and exhibits, all of which demonstrates the plantation lifestyle that was carried out the early nineteenth century in Baton Rouge. Take a peaceful stroll through Windrush Gardens and enjoy the landscape. It features ancient crape myrtles, magnificent oaks and other plants in the nineteenth century plantation garden.
Address: 4560 Essen Ln, Baton Rouge, LA 70809, United States
Phone: 1 225-763-3990
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday: 8:00am-5:00pm
Tour the Old Louisiana State Capitol and know the state’s political history!
Know the political history of Louisiana at the historic Old State Capitol, a gothic structure constructed in 1847. It has a museum that chronicles the Louisiana past through several exhibits. Explore the Capitol- the old congress chamber, the old senate room and marvel at the multi-media presentation and exhibits detailing the state’s history.
Address: 100 North Blvd, Baton Rouge, LA 70801, United States
Phone: 1 225-342-0500
Opening hours: Tuesday to Friday: 10:00am-4:00pm; Saturday: 9:00am-3:00pm
Insight into Baton Rouge’s history at USS Kidd and Veterans Memorial!
Image by Christopherlin via Wikimedia Commons Under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported
Check out the World War II warship- Fletcher Class Destroyer, USS Kidd. The USS Kidd and Veterans Memorial has an observation tower and a museum featuring restored WWII fighter jet, model ships collection, gun decks replicas, fighter jet used in Vietnam War, and several other fascinating exhibits and one-of-a-kind artifacts. Walk around the deck of the ship and learn about the US naval history!
Address: 305 South River Rd, Baton Rouge, LA 70802, United States
Opening hours: Monday to Friday: 9:30am-3:30pm; Saturday & Sunday: 10:00am-4:00pm
Tour the Louisiana State Capitol!
Louisiana State Capitol is the tallest building in the city and represents the legislative powers that run the state. It’s a landmark structure designed in art deco style with beautiful bronze and marble detailing in the interior. Flanking the staircases are two statues- the Pioneers and the Patriots. Tour the Capitol and take the elevator up to the Observation deck on the 27th floor and enjoy the splendid views of the Mississippi River and the city of Baton Rouge.
Address: 900 N 3rd Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70802, United States
Phone: 1 225-342-7317
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday: 8:00am-4:30pm
Connect with nature at Magnolia Mound Plantation!
Explore the 1700s plantation house- the Magnolia Mount Plantation House with French Creole architectures. It offers a glimpse into the culture and lifestyle of the state’s eighteenth and nineteenth century plantation owners. Check out the period furnishings, a blacksmith shop, a weaving and spinning building, slave quarters, vegetable garden, and other structures. It is one of the oldest homes in Baton Rouge and is listed in National Register of Historic Places. Explore the house and know about Louisiana’s past!
Address: 2161 Nicholson Dr, Baton Rouge, LA 70802, United States
Phone: 1 225-343-4955
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday: 10:00am-4:00pm; Sunday: 1:00pm-4:00pm
Appreciate the art and science at Louisiana Art and Science Museum!
Map data: Google, DigitalGlobe
Housed in an ancient railroad depot along the Mississippi River, the Louisiana Art and Science Museum provides edutainment opportunities for visitors of all ages. It features interactive art and science galleries, a planetarium and children’s science exhibits. The art galleries feature changing and permanent collection of fine art exhibitions on Egyptian, American and European art, as well as Contemporary artwork of Louisiana. The interactive art and science gallery is for kids where creativity, education and fun come in several forms. There are interactive, education based exhibits to make learning interesting for children. Attend a sky show, visual music shows and digital movie, and check out the space station at the planetarium.
Address: 100 S River Rd, Baton Rouge, LA 70802, United States
Phone: 1 225-344-5272
Opening hours: Tuesday to Friday: 10:00am-3:00pm; Saturday: 10:00am-5:00pm; Sunday: 1:00pm-4:00pm
Connect with animals at Baton Rouge Zoo!
Image By Kkmurray (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html), CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/) or CC BY 2.5 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5)], via Wikimedia Commons
Baton Rouge Zoo houses a wide variety of animals and birds from different parts of the world. The major attractions include the Otter Pond, Safari Playground, Realm of Tiger, L’aquarium de Louisiane, Parrot Paradise, Giant of the Lands, and more. Some of the animals that you can spot here are flamingos, giraffes, elephants, zebras, Sumatran tigers, kangaroos and more. Also, to satisfy your appetite, grab a bite to eat at the Flamingo Cafe. There is also a KidZoo that has hands-on animal encounter with barnyard animals, and a playground.
Address: 3601 Thomas Rd, Baton Rouge, LA 70807, United States
Phone: 1 225-775-3877
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday: 9:30am-4:00pm
Browse the natural beauty of Louisiana at Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center!
Map Data: Google, DigitalGlobe
Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center is a mix of swampland and forest surrounded by flora and fauna, nature trails and a building with exhibits on ecology, history and culture. Walk along the nature trails and catch a glimpse of birds, alligators, turtles, Raccoons, foxes, snakes, and the like. Enjoy the beautiful vistas!
Address: 10503 N Oak Hills Pkwy, Baton Rouge, LA 70810, United States
Phone: 1 225-757-8905
Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday: 9:00am-5:00pm; Sunday: 12:00pm-5:00pm
Enjoy the natural scenery at LSU Hilltop Arboretum!
Map data: Google, DigitalGlobe
Check out the Louisiana native trees and plants at the LSU Hilltop Arboretum. The Arboretum has a wide variety of native trees and shrubs, including wildflowers, oaks, grasses, bamboo and magnolias. It also has miles of nature trails, lush paintings and a ravine that make it a great spot to relax, stroll and enjoy nature.
Address: 11855 Highland Rd, Baton Rouge, LA 70810, United States
Phone: 1 225-767-6916
Opening hours: Tuesday to Friday: 9:00am-4:30pm
Discover Louisiana’s colorful history, culture and industry at Capitol Park Museum!
Image By see above (Photo by Infrogmation) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC BY 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Capitol Park Museum features thematic exhibits exploring Louisiana art, history, culture, music, technology, food, sports and industry. It has two permanent exhibits- “Experiencing Louisiana: Discovering the Soul of America”, and “Ground for Greatness: Louisiana and the Nation”. Check out the interesting exhibit on history and culture of Mardi Gras, plus the several cultural influences on the food here.
Address: 660 N 4th Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70802, United States
Phone: 1 225-342-5428
Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday: 9:00am-4:30pm
Best Tourist Spots in Baton Rouge Map Guide
