Explorations of the capital city of Louisiana!
Baton Rouge was founded by the French on the east side of the Mississippi River in 1721. It was chosen to be Louisiana’s new state capitol in 1846, leaving “sinful” New Orleans behind. The Civil War caused the capitol to move again and back to New Orleans after the war. The capitol returned to Baton Rouge in 1882. The city’s population remained fairly small until the 1950s and 1960s when the petrochemical plants moved into town. Now, Baton Rouge is a bustling modern state capitol.
Jana Irving The Old State Capitol building was a bit unique. Instead of creating a mini-US Capitol building, they went with this awesome Neo-Gothic structure. Most of the interior was destroyed by fire during the Civil War, but it was reconstructed and used until 1932.
Jana Irving The staircase is amazing.
Jana Irving It just keeps getting more awesome.
Jana Irving Not like any other capitol building I have seen.
Jana Irving One of the legislative chambers is now used for events.
Jana Irving The Old Governor’s Mansion was in use from 1930 to 1963.
Jana Irving Today it’s a cross between a museum and event space. They were setting up for some event. Otherwise, I was allowed to wander freely.
Jana Irving This room had some awesome hand painted wallpaper.
Jana Irving You can still buy this pattern from the Zuber, a French wallpaper company that has been in business since 1797.
Jana Irving Upstairs, several bedrooms have been decorated to the time periods of several governors. This room is dedicated to Huey P. Long, governor from 1928 to 1932. Long got the state to pay for a new mansion by having criminals tear down the old one.
Jana Irving That’s a color choice.
Jana Irving I love this sun room.
Jana Irving Out exploring again and found this awesome door.
Jana Irving The Lafayette Building, one of the earliest remaining architecturally significant buildings in the city.
Jana Irving St. Joseph Cathedral. I love the red doors.
Jana Irving The current state capitol building of Louisiana, another one of Huey Long’s pet projects. He’s actually buried inside or underneath a statue of himself in front of the building, the building in which he was assassinated.
Jana Irving Very Art Deco inside.
Jana Irving The Senate Chamber.
Jana Irving At 450 ft (137 m) tall, Louisiana has the tallest state capitol building in the United States. There is an observation deck near the top.
Jana Irving Not far from downtown is the historic Magnolia Mound Plantation, built in 1791 and enlarged in the early 1800s.
Jana Irving There are some absolutely gigantic Live Oak trees in front of the house.
Jana Irving Several other buildings join the main house on the property. The kitchen was in a separate building. This one has been reconstructed but the original one was probably pretty similar.
Jana Irving This Pigeonnier (c. 1825) was brought here from another plantation. Pigeonniers were very common on French-Creole plantations for housing pigeons, a delicacy.
Jana Irving The overseer’s cottage dates to after the Civil War. Overseers were responsible for running plantations.
Jana Irving A double slave cabin from about 1830. It was relocated here from another plantation.
Baton Rouge is definitely a modern city. However, some vestiges of the past can still be found in the city. This was just a little bit of the city. Plenty of other museums and attractions can be found in the area as well.
Check out my next update where I explore the French Quarter of New Orleans!
or
Check out other state capitol buildings!
