10 Top Rated Things to Do in Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Photograph by King_Of_Aviators, via Wikimedia Commons
USS Kidd Museum
#1 in Best Top 10 Places to Visit in Baton Rouge
USS Kidd, now a museum ship was the ship of the United States Navy named after US flag officer Isaac C. Kidd who died during World War II. USS Kidd is one of only four Fletcher-class destroyers still preserved as museums. The museum has variety of artifacts and gallery of historic photos that features veteran and naval military history.
Photograph by Elisa Rolle, via Wikimedia Commons
Louisiana's Old State Capitol
#2 in Best Top 10 Places to Visit in Baton Rouge
Old State Capitol, also known as the State House is a historic building and museum from the mid 19th century. The Gothic style capitol overlooking the Mississippi River is also known as Louisiana Castle. There is no admission charge to tour the building. The museum of the capitol is dedicated to inspiring engaged citizenship, advancing the collection and preserving this National Historic Landmark.
Photograph by Chrismiceli, via Wikimedia Commons
Louisiana State Capitol
#3 in Best Top 10 Places to Visit in Baton Rouge
34 stories and 450 feet tall The Louisiana State Capitol it the tallest capitol in the United States. It is also the tallest skyscraper building in Baton Rouge. The tower is decorated with sculpture representing the history of the State. There is an observation deck located on the 27th floor offering views of Baton Rouge and the Mississippi River. No admission fee to visit to capitol and it is open from 8:00am to 4:30pm daily.
Photograph Flickr by Shanna Riley, via Wikimedia Commons
LSU Rural Life Museum
#4 in Best Top 10 Places to Visit in Baton Rouge
LSU Rural Life Museum focuses on the life of the 18th and 19th centuries. The outdoor museum features homes and outbuildings built in the 18th and 19th centuries.The Working Plantation illustrates the life of working people on a 19th century plantation. It consists of a Post Office, Commissary, Overseer's House, Open-Hearth Kitchen, Slave Cabins, Sick House, Blacksmith's Shop, Sugar House, School House, Pigeon Cote, and a large collection of Outhouses. The Folk Architecture Section consists of a Split-Cypress Barn, Country Church, Pioneer's Cabin with Corn Crib and Potato House, Shotgun House, Dogtrot House, Log House, Log Barn and a Jail. The Exhibit Barn displays various exhibits on Louisiana's cultural and historical heritage.
Photograph by Kkmurray, via Wikimedia Commons
Baton Rouge Zoo
#5 in Best Top 10 Places to Visit in Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge Zoo is home to more than 800 animals from around the world. The zoo exhibits include Otter Pond, La Aquarium de Louisiana, Realm of the Tiger, Flamingo Cove, Giants of the Islands, and Safari Playground. The zoo offers rental Capital One Pavilion to host birthday and private events. Every Wednesday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. zoo admission is only $1.50 per person.
Photograph by Infrogmation, via Wikimedia Commons
Capitol Park Museum
#6 in Best Top 10 Places to Visit in Baton Rouge
Capitol Park Museum is a branch of the Louisiana State Museum. The Capitol Park Museum provides thematic exhibits on diverse aspects of Louisiana history and culture. The museum includes two permanent exhibits: Grounds for Greatness: Louisiana and the Nation and Experiencing Louisiana: Discovering the Soul of America.
Photograph by Niagara, via Wikimedia Commons
Louisiana Art & Science Museum
#7 in Best Top 10 Places to Visit in Baton Rouge
Louisiana Art and Science Museum is located in historic Baton Rouge train station building. Located across the Old State Capitol building, the museum exhibit includes Ancient Egypt, Solar System, Planet Tower, and Universe Gallery. Permanent collection of the museum includes over 4,000 artworks and artifacts. The Ancient Egypt Gallery features ancient Greek, Roman, and Egyptian artifacts. The gallery also includes mummy from the Ptolemaic period. The two stories high Planet Tower features a series of soaring windows and giant planet models. The Universe Gallery displays most recent images from the Hubble Space Telescope, NASA, and JPL spacecraft.
Photograph by Niagara, via Wikimedia Commons
Old Governor's Mansion
#8 in Best Top 10 Places to Visit in Baton Rouge
Old Louisiana Governor's Mansion served as the official residence to nine Louisiana governors and their families between 1930 and 1962. Designed by Thomas Jefferson, the mansion is inspired by the White House in Washington D.C. The historic house museum located in downtown offers guided tours.
Photograph by David J. Kaminsky, via Wikimedia Commons
Magnolia Mound Plantation House
#9 in Best Top 10 Places to Visit in Baton Rouge
Magnolia Mound Plantation House is known for unique vernacular architecture influenced by early settlers from France and the West Indies. The plantation house located on the Mississippi River was built in 1791 and renovated in 1802-1805. Spanning the colonial era, Magnolia Mound's collection includes locally made furniture from Louisiana's colonial period, as well as French pieces. The historic house museum includes Open-Hearth Kitchen, Quarters, Pigeonnier, Overseer's House, Privy, and Gift Shop.
Photograph by H.dryad, via Wikimedia Commons
Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center
#10 in Best Top 10 Places to Visit in Baton Rouge
Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center is a 103-acre nature park of Baton Rouge. The exhibit building features live animal exhibits, photography, and art exhibits. Over a mile of gravel trails and boardwalks run through varied habitats such as the cypress-tupelo swamp, beech-magnolia and hardwood forests. Recreation activities include hiking, bird watching and wildlife viewing.
Baton Rouge Museums
- USS Kidd Museum
- Louisiana's Old State Capitol
- Capitol Park Museum
- Louisiana Art & Science Museum
- Shaw Center for the Arts
- LSU Rural Life Museum
Baton Rouge Parks
- Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center