When planning your trip to Louisiana, you have to schedule in a visit to the state’s capitol. But with so much history, culture and great food to appreciate, it’s tough to narrow down where you should spend your time.
Thankfully, there are some tried and true places sure to delight any visitor. To help you narrow down your search, we’ve put together a list of some of the top attractions in Baton Rouge to visit during your Louisiana stay. With so many unique options, you’re sure to find something you love among the top 10 places to visit in Baton Rouge.
- USS KIDD
- Shaw Center of the Arts
- LSU Tiger Stadium
- Louisiana’s White House
- Louisiana Art and Science Museum
- Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center
- St. Joseph’s Cathedral
- LSU Rural Life Museum
- Baton Rouge Zoo
- Alex Box Stadium, Skip Bertman Field
1. USS KIDD
This preserved piece of living history amazes even those who aren’t World War II history buffs.
The USS KIDD is the only Fletcher-class destroyer from World War II restored to its original state and open for tours. You get the opportunity to board the ship and explore exactly what the vessel would have looked like in 1945 when the navy first commissioned the ship.
The USS KIDD is the 661st destroyer built by the US Navy. They named her in honor of Rear Admiral Issac Campbell Kidd, Sr. who tragically died aboard his flagship in the attack on Pearl Harbor. Today, her name possesses a double meaning.
During its maiden voyage to New York City, the ship flew the Jolly Roger skull and crossbones flag in New York Harbor — the first vessel to do so in over 100 years. The KIDD earned the name the “Pirate of the Pacific.” With the late Rear Admiral Kidd’s wife’s permission, the unofficial mascot of the ship became Pirate William Kidd, and they painted his cartoon likeness on the ship’s forward smokestack. The name “Kidd” earned its second meaning.
Staying true to the ship’s name, the crew would also hold rescued pilots for ransom. Their price? Some ice cream mix and other delicacies.
The KIDD played several roles throughout its history, including anti-submarine picket duty, shore bombardment and picking up downed pilots. It also served as an anti-aircraft platform.
Another distinction of the ship was its role in feminist history. On its first voyage, Anne Randle, the first member of Women Accepted for Voluntary Emergency Service (WAVES) to accept an assignment in the Office of Shipbuilding, joined the crew’s personnel on their New York City voyage. Even in the 1940s, seamen still held superstitions about bringing women aboard a naval ship.
For an especially interesting visit, you can join the overnight camping experience offered by the ship.
2. Shaw Center of the Arts
This venue houses a wide variety of sites, including The River Terrace, Manship Theatre, LSU Museum of Art and Glassell Gallery, along with various dining options.
In addition to its theatre space, Manship Theatre also has an exhibition venue. The gallery sits on the mezzanine level and allows local and national artists to show their personal collections. The exhibitions are free during their open hours, and you can also enjoy the art before and after your show.
The theatre constantly offers new events, including dance performances, film showings, music concerts and theatrical productions.
The Alfred C. Glassell Jr. Exhibition Gallery is a space cultivated by the LSU School of Art. It showcases contemporary artists from across the United States, displays the progress of the School of Art students and exhibits faculty work. There is no admission fee, as the gallery aims to expose the community to national art and help individuals enter into the dialogue of contemporary studies.
For more historical pieces, the LSU Museum of Art houses different permanent collections, including paintings, Chinese jade, sculptures, paper works, decorative arts and photography. They also offer rotating exhibitions to increase the variety of art housed in the museum.
3. LSU Tiger Stadium
Perhaps one of the most popular attractions in all of Louisiana is the LSU Tiger Stadium, which is home to the university’s famous football team. Since the building of the original field in 1926, the amphitheater, known as “Death Valley,” has expanded to seat 92,600 fans, making it the fourth largest on-campus stadium in the United States.
The expansion from its original 12,000-person capacity became necessary due to the Bayou Bengals’ huge fan base. Locals consider college football a way of life, and when every home game amasses a consistent 102,000 spectators, there’s no questioning Baton Rouge’s Tiger pride — and nothing says school pride quite like having a live mascot on campus, right?
However, unlike Handsome Dan, Yale’s cute bulldog mascot, LSU doesn’t have a traditional animal kept as a pet in someone’s home. They need a habitat and animal care plan licensed by the USDA and compliant with the Federal Animal Welfare Act.
Because Mike, the LSU mascot, is a 350 pound Bengal tiger.
While the stadium might be the fourth largest in the country, LSU is the first and only college to have a live tiger living on campus. Since the first tiger’s purchase in 1934, the school has housed seven different Mikes over the years. The school has not purchased a tiger since the 1950s. They no longer condone the purchase of big cats from for-profit breeding facilities. Every Mike since Mike IV has been adopted from a reputable zoo or rescue, and the school focuses on promoting awareness for the protection of endangered animals.
You can visit Mike the Tiger during his visiting hours, but if you can’t make the trip, you can watch his livestream online.
4. Louisiana’s White House
Officially known as The Old Governor’s Mansion, the Baton Rouge landmark that people now refer to as Louisiana’s White House contains the efforts of Preserve Louisiana. Since 1963, the organization aims to preserve the heritage and protect the historical treasures of Baton Rouge and the state of Louisiana as a whole.
Governor Huey P. Long commissioned the original building in 1930. It housed the Louisiana governors and their families from the year 1930 to 1962. Preserve Louisiana stepped in to convert the home into a museum a year later.
You can tour the mansion to appreciate the original architecture, attend one of their lectures or browse the historical artifacts on display inside. The building houses different exhibitions about the special history of Louisiana.
For example, they previously curated an exhibition called The First Ladies of the Old Governor’s Mansion. It focused on the lives and contributions of the first ladies of Louisiana and the impacts they had on their husbands’ tenures as governor. They brought topics such as suffrage, education, arts and women’s inclusion in politics to the forefront of their administrations.
5. Louisiana Art and Science Museum
If you’re looking for another location where you can appreciate the fine arts and the delve into scientific discoveries, the Louisiana Art and Science Museum is the place to go. The museum works to expand the public’s appreciation for both the arts and sciences through its exciting and educational displays. They champion a curious and creative approach to life.
Their museum sits in the downtown area in a 1925 historic railway station, and while the exterior of the building possesses a beauty of its own, the exhibits on the inside are even more intriguing. The museum offers exciting galleries and activities for all ages.
If you’re a lover of art, you can check out their permanent collections and changing exhibitions that they alter to give you a new experience every time you visit. If science fascinates you, you can make discoveries of your own in their interactive exhibits. If you love the study of archaeology, you can take a look at their Ancient Egypt Gallery, home to a Ptolemaic-era mummy in its tomb.
They even have a planetarium that shows films, sky shows and visual music experiences. They hold a variety of events throughout the year, so check out their calendar before you plan your visit.
6. Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center
If you want your visit to Baton Rouge to include an environmental experience, the Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center gives you plenty of outdoor options. With over 103 acres and a 9,500-square-foot center, they focus on conserving the environment and giving visitors a fun and educational experience. You can walk their mile-long gravel and boardwalk trail. You can also see all types of native vegetation and wildlife — the space is renowned for its bird watching opportunities.
If you’re more interested in exhibits, their nature center houses photography presentations, natural artifacts and minerals, a vintage carving collection and different ecological and artistic exhibits.
They also host a variety of events, from bird-watching walks to flashlight nights, so be sure to check out their calendar.
7. St. Joseph’s Cathedral
For someone interested in breathtaking historical architecture, St. Joseph’s Cathedral stands as one of the beautiful Baton Rouge monuments.
The church was established in 1792 — 20 years before Louisiana gained statehood. King Carlos IV of Spain founded the parish, naming it Nuestra Señora de Los Dolores, which translates to Our Lady of Sorrows. The original building only held 100 people, and the faith of the community quickly outgrew the seating. Within three years, the number of parishioners had grown to 529.
The chapel has undergone many changes, including its name change to St. Joseph in 1828. The gorgeous building holds a lot of history and represents the faith of a community older than the state of Louisiana.
The cathedral welcomes visitors, but even taking the time just to drive by gives you insight into the historical building’s beauty.
8. LSU Rural Life Museum
Interested in what life was like in Louisiana in the 1700s? A visit to the LSU Rural Life Museum will give you your best chance at spectating and participating in living history.
The museum preserves the lifestyles of the communities that lived in Louisiana in the 18th and 19th centuries. They possess the largest collection of artifacts and architecture from that time period and display them outdoors in a rural landscape.
They have three primary displays — the Exhibit Barn, Plantation Quarters and Louisiana Folk Architecture. Each one features artifacts and replicates living quarters accurate to the time period.
They also hold events, such as the Louisiana Sow & Sew and An Evening at Windrush, if you’re interested in an immersive experience.
9. Baton Rouge Zoo
This zoo was planned back in the 1960s by the Recreation and Parks Commission of Baton Rouge. It opened its doors to the welcoming public on Easter Sunday in 1970 and has remained a staple of the Baton Rouge community ever since. Over a quarter-million guests visit the zoo every year, and it ranks as the top year-round family attraction in the city.
The zoo dedicates itself to the conservation and preservation of the animal kingdom. They participate in almost 30 international Species Survival Plans to help protect critically endangered animals. Due to their contributions, three of those species have been successfully reintroduced into the wild.
They focus on offering educational programs to visitors of all ages to raise awareness about the dangers that wildlife faces today. They also collaborate with the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine to perform essential research on several species.
To see what events they’re holding during your visit, consult their calendar and plan your visit.
10. Alex Box Stadium, Skip Bertman Field
Built in 1938, the original Alex Box Stadium was home to the baseball players of LSU for several decades. However, it was torn down in 2008 and reopened a year later as the Alex Box, Skip Bertman Field. A legendary and beloved coach of the LSU Tigers for 18 years, Skip Bertman led his team to five National Championships and seven SEC Championships.
The new stadium features similar amenities that you would expect to find in a professional major league facility, including a club lounge, 10,000 square-feet of locker rooms and meeting spaces, a SportShop, concessions and a press box.
The 2,500-seat facility has also hosted a number of professional teams over the years, including the New York Giants.
Visit The Gregory Today
No matter where you decide to appreciate the wonders of Louisiana, add an elegant meal to your day at The Gregory at the Watermark hotel. The Gregory offers upscale brunch, lunch and dinner with a Southern twist.
Located near the Mississippi River and Baton Rouge’s capitol building, we offer exceptional cuisine and remarkable ambiance that pairs with any of the famous landmarks in Baton Rouge. As The Gregory has become a local favorite, tables fill quickly, so make your reservation today.
