When it comes to tourism in the United States, there are plenty of cities that steal the largest amounts of buzz. Everyone talks about places like New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas and Washington, D.C. Even in the South, cities like Atlanta, Miami and New Orleans are the heavy hitters that most people are likely to visit. But don’t be fooled into thinking these are the only cities worth visiting in the South. There’s plenty to see and do across the region, and plenty of cities just waiting for you to discover them.
Here in Baton Rouge, we may not quite get the same level of national attention that New Orleans does, but we’re just fine with that. This means our streets are less crowded with tourists, allowing more room for the sparkling personality of our beloved city to shine through. We’ve got plenty of our own tourist attractions too — and the fact that they’re less well known just means you won’t have to fight the crowds to get to them, as you might in larger cities.
Wondering what the best tourist attractions in Baton Rouge are? We’re here to help, whether you are spending your time in downtown Baton Rouge or beyond. We’ve put together this list of historical attractions, must-see sites and unique things to do in Baton Rouge. Whether you’re here for a week, a weekend or just the day, we think there’s plenty here to keep you busy. So grab your calendar and get busy penciling these great stops in for your next visit.
Top Attractions for Touring Baton Rouge, LA
- Catch Some Local History at the Old State Capitol
- Explore State History at The Old Governor’s Mansion
- Walk the Grounds at Magnolia Mound Plantation
- Visit the Past at the LSU Rural Life Museum
- Climb Aboard the USS KIDD
- Stop in for a Delicious Bite at The Gregory
- Immerse Yourself in Nature at Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center
- Say Hello to the Animals at Baton Rouge Zoo
- See What’s Happening at the Shaw Center for the Arts
- Learn Something New at the Louisiana Arts and Science Museum
Let’s take a closer look at each of these amazing destinations and start planning your trip.
1. Catch Some Local History at the Old State Capitol
Without a doubt, one of the best historical places to visit in Baton Rouge is the Old State Capitol. Built in 1847, this site is more than just another ordinary government building. Instead, the Capitol is a stunning Gothic-Revival castle that is gorgeous to look at and will be of particular interest to anyone fascinated by art or architecture. While the castle’s interior was burned during Union Army occupation at the start of the Civil War, it was subsequently repaired and the structure served as the Capitol until 1932, when the new Capitol building opened.
Although this is no longer the seat of government in Louisiana, it still stands as a beautiful and historic landmark. Today, it serves as a museum of political history and houses exhibits on the Civil War, Baton Rouge itself and even a portrait gallery featuring images of Louisiana governors past. It also hosts various events and can even be rented out by private individuals for weddings and other occasions.
2. Explore State History at the Old Governor’s Mansion
Once you’ve had a peek inside the Old Capitol Building, you can continue your historical journey through Baton Rouge’s political history at the Old Governor’s Mansion. This stunning mansion was built in the 1930s and was intended as a visual homage to the White House’s original design. The dazzling columns at the front of the building will certainly help cement this connection for anyone who’s ever visited the nation’s capital.
While the governor and his family no longer reside in this building, it is open to the public in the form of guided tours. These tours allow visitors to walk the halls of the house, peek at the historical furnishings and decorations and gain insight into the way nine different governors of Louisiana and their families would have lived in this very house.
3. Walk the Grounds at Magnolia Mound Plantation
Magnolia Mound Plantation is an authentic old-Louisiana plantation, originally built in the late 18th century. While it has been altered, expanded and repaired over the years, the original buildings still have much of their original appearance. One of the most remarkable things about these historic buildings is the various architectural influences present, including nods to design quirks and trends from France and the West Indies, where these early Baton Rouge settlers would likely have had ties.
Today, the nearly 15 acres of Magnolia Mound Plantation are open for visitor tours, after being appropriated and maintained by the city as a historical reminder of an earlier age. Visitors can tour the grounds, the main house and plenty of outbuildings as they learn more about the people who would have lived there over the years and what life would have been like for them.
4. Visit the Past at the LSU Rural Life Museum
Did you know that 10 unique flags have waved over Louisiana over the course of its lifespan? Each of those flags symbolizes a unique blend of culture and history that has imbued Louisiana with a tapestry of influences. One of the best places to learn about part of this history today is the LSU Rural Life Museum, housed under the umbrella of Louisiana State University. This museum serves as a collection of artifacts, sites and exhibits that work together to tell the story of the cultures and ways of life present in rural 19th century Louisiana.
If you choose to visit this fascinating museum during your trip to Baton Rouge, just a few of the sights you’ll see include The Barn, which features artifacts from the 18th and 19th centuries, and the Working Plantation, which is made up of a collection of buildings and sites designed to recreate life on a plantation. You’ll also find a church, a cabin, an Acadian house and plenty more Louisiana Folk Architecture that illustrates the various competing cultural influences that all played a part in Louisiana’s development as a state and a region.
5. Climb Aboard the USS KIDD
If you consider yourself a history or a military buff, then there’s no better historical landmark to visit in Baton Rouge than the USS KIDD and its accompanying museum. This destroyer was originally launched in 1943 and eventually earned the nickname “The Pirate of the Pacific” over the course of its long and fascinating history. The ship was retired in 1964, but it has a new life today in helping tourists learn a bit more about their country’s naval history.
Today, visitors can climb aboard the ship for themselves to learn about the ship’s history, as well as what life on board would have been like. Additionally, the USS KIDD Veterans Memorial Complex includes an observation tower and a museum that is home to a model ship collection, plenty of naval and military artifacts and even a small-scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, allowing visitors who may not have the chance to travel to Washington, D.C. the opportunity to see it for themselves.
6. Stop in for a Delicious Bite at The Gregory
After all the walking around and sight-seeing you’ll be doing, you’ll quickly find yourself working up an appetite. Thankfully, Baton Rouge has no shortage of delicious restaurants, many serving up the very finest in Southern Cajun-style cooking. And while any of the restaurants you might find would make fantastic choices, it isn’t a true Baton Rouge experience until you’ve stopped in to visit us at The Gregory.
Here at The Gregory, we pride ourselves on using only the freshest and finest of local ingredients. All our dishes are true traditional favorites of the Deep South, but we don’t stop at just serving the classics. We’ve added our own special touch to all of these recipes, and we hope you’ll agree that the results are something exceptional.
And while all these delicious flavors and ingredients would be wonderful enough on their own, we like to provide a full experience for our guests. That extends to the atmosphere we create in our dining room. Relax with friends and family in our one-of-a-kind dining room and bar, complete with walls covered in beautiful murals painted by our namesake, Angela Gregory. The Gregory is also conveniently located in the downtown area, placing you within easy traveling distance of many of the other downtown Baton Rouge tourist attractions.
7. Immerse Yourself in Nature at Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center
If history is less your scene and you’d rather spend the day in nature instead, why not head on over to Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center? While not located in Baton Rouge itself, Bluebonnet is just outside the city and sprawls over 103 acres of beautiful and wild swampland. Visitors to the park can hike along a mile of gravel paths and wooden boardwalk all while taking in the beauty of the trees, the swamp and the wildlife along the way.
Once you’ve finished your hike, you can also feel free to stop in at the Exhibit Building, where you’ll find plenty of information about the natural flora and fauna of swamplands like this one, as well as mineral and artifacts displays. Whether you’re just looking for a quiet stroll or a place to take the whole family, this is a fantastic spot to choose.
8. Say Hello to the Animals at Baton Rouge Zoo
When you’ve got kids with you, one of the very best places in the city to take them to is the Baton Rouge Zoo. But whether you’re a kid or an adult, there’s plenty to see and do for everyone. You’ll find an enormous variety of animals, both exotic and domestic, from habitats around the world. Enjoy watching parrots, tigers, flamingos, rhinos, big cats, otters, Galapagos tortoises and a variety of reptiles, to name just a very few, all spread out across different zones and habitats for you to explore.
If you do have children with you, then this zoo has a special treat for them as well. While they’ll surely love all the animals present around the zoo, they may particularly enjoy the KidsZoo, a smaller area filled with barnyard animals and tunnels for the kids to play in while they enjoy in the company of their new animal friends.
9. See What’s Happening at the Shaw Center for the Arts
Love a bit of theater? Always checking to see what acts, shows and performances taking place during your travels? If you’re headed to Baton Rouge, you’ll want to be sure to check out what’s coming to the Shaw Center for the Arts. This gorgeous arts facility is so large it takes up an entire city block. It’s hosted thousands of exciting cultural acts and events in this space since it first opened in 2005.
Within the Shaw Center, you’ll find the Manship Theater, which is always showcasing national to international talent in the world of music, theater, dance and entertainment. It’s certainly worth checking out what new and exciting productions are coming to the stage when you’re in town.
The LSU Museum of Art is also housed in the Shaw Center and features a stunning collection of visual art that you can browse at your leisure, perhaps before stopping in to catch a performance at the theater. This art collection is vast and encompasses samples of talent from across time and around the globe, from regional portraits to ancient Chinese jade sculptures.
10. Learn Something New at the Louisiana Arts and Science Museum
You’ll find a little bit of everything at the Louisiana Arts and Science Museum, and all of it will be fascinating. Adults and kids alike will be delighted by the interdisciplinary celebration of arts and science housed within these walls. The art portion of the museum features everything from American to European art to photography, antiquities and ethnographic art. Of particular interest is the Ancient Egypt gallery, complete with mummies.
The science portion of the museum is heavily targeted towards children and families, with plenty of interactive exhibits designed to get everyone involved and having a good time. For young children especially, there couldn’t be a better spot to learn more about the world while having fun at the same time. We’d also recommend attending a sky show at the Planetarium to experience all the wonders of the universe right here in Baton Rouge.
Visit The Gregory Today
As you’re planning your trip to Baton Rouge, there are lots of things to think about. You’ll need to plan for hotel accommodations, which sites you’ll see on which day and of course, how you’ll get from one place to the next. Amidst all this busyness and planning, it can be easy to forget to plan one of the most important aspects of any trip — where you’ll stop for meals.
When you visit Baton Rouge, we invite you to stop by our downtown location for a true Southern dining experience. Browse our menu today and start planning what dishes you absolutely have to try.
