Baton Rouge Attractions

Magnolia Mound in Baton Rouge was built in the last half of the 18th C and shows the architectural influences brought by early settlers from France and the West Indies. Throughout the years the home has been owned by a variety of different people who took the liberty of making their own alterations and extensions. The home still maintains much of its 18th / 19th C appearance; a wooden structure of bousillage construction. Furnished with Federal-style pieces, it is surrounded by oak trees (some more than 200 years old.)

The property was expropriated by the city of Baton Rouge to be maintained as a historical symbol of an earlier age. Today it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and open to the public for tours. The property includes almost 15 acres, which is now a historical museum, that consists of the main house and several other buildings.

The Old State Capitol building in Baton Rouge is a Gothic-Revival castle that was built in 1847. It is noteworthy both from a historical and architectural perspective, and is worth a look, if even just from the outside.

The castle was burned by the Union Army, and in 1882 it was repaired and served as the state capitol until 1932 when the new State Capitol building opened. This eye catching structure standing high on a bluff over the Mississippi River, is now the Center for Political and Governmental History. The museum offers a number of good exhibits that include The Huey Long Assassination Exhibit, The Governors' Exhibit, The Campaign and Elections Exhibit, and The Louisiana Purchase Exhibit. There is also a museum store with, among other things, a number of history related books.

The Old State Capitol hosts various events and can be rented out as a venue for weddings and other occasions.

The USS Kidd and Veterans Memorial in Baton Rouge centers around the destroyer USS KIDD. This ship, named after Rear Admiral Isaac Campbell Kidd, Sr. who was killed on the Arizona during the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, was launched in 1943. It was nick named the "Pirate of the Pacific" and had a long and interesting history before it was de-commissioned in 1964. It has been used in several movies over the decades, as well as historical documentaries. Today visitors can come aboard to see the USS KIDD for themselves and learn all about its past.

The USS Kidd and Veterans Memorial complex also consists of an observation tower and museum. The Nautical Center has many one-of-a-kind artifacts, a model ship collection, and a miniature replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall found in Washington, D.C. Visitors can opt buy combination tickets to visit both the ship and museum, or the museum on its own.

BREC's Baton Rouge Zoo has more than 1,800 animals. Among the collection are fish, reptiles and amphibians of Louisiana in the L'aquarium de Louisiane and the Otter Pond. Check out the Parrot Paradise with rare and colorful birds from the tropics, including parrots and macaws. The Realm of the Tiger is a more recent addition, with tigers and other Asian animals. Flamingo Cove and Giants of the Islands exhibits feature Chilean flamingos and Galapagos and Aldabra tortoises.

There are many other exhibits with animals from around the world. The KidsZoo is another popular area with barn yard animals and tunnels for kids to play in. Neighboring this is the Safari Playground with a variety of equipment. Overall the Baton Rouge Zoo is a very popular outing for families and children.

Exhibits at the Enchanted Mansion Doll Museum in Baton Rouge include antique and modern dolls.

The 14 acre site of Hilltop Arboretum in Baton Rouge was purchased after World War II by Emory Smith and his wife, Annette, as a working farm and country retreat. Visitors can travel the winding paths that lead to the bamboo grove, century-old oak trees, the "Cathedral" where tree canopies form a green protective room and the "Emory Smith" magnolia.

The Louisiana Arts & Science Museum features a mix of art and science, with a little something for both adults and children. The art galleries offer both changing exhibits, and a permanent collection of fine art. Some of the highlights include American and European art, ethnographic art, modern and contemporary art of Louisiana, photography, and antiquities. Check the calendar to learn about the most current exhibits.

The science portion of the museum, targeted towards children and families, is a fun area with interactive, education based displays. This is a place where children are provided interesting ways to learn about the world around them.

Also of interest is the creatively laid out Ancient Egypt Gallery with mummies and other artifacts, and an on sight Planetarium. The building which houses the Louisiana Arts & Science Museum is a lovely old railroad depot located along the Mississippi River.