Festivals

Bonne Fete Baton Rouge - March
July Fourth River Fest - July
Christmas on the River
Downtown Baton Rouge - December

BREC's Baton Rouge Zoo                                                             Zippity Zoo Daze -  First Weekend in April
www.brzoo.org 

Attractions

Louisiana State University
on LA 30 Nicholson Drive

LSU Campus Mounds: Louisiana State University Campus    Over 5,000 years ago Native Americans built large earthen mounds that were used for everything from ceremonial centers to base camps for hunting and gathering. Two of the ancient mounds are located on LSU's Baton Rouge campus.

Magnolia Mound Plantation
on LA 30 2161 Nicholson Drive 225-343 4955 Open Tues-Sat 10-4, Sun noon-4.
A French Creole House Museum ca. 1791. Interior has been authentically restored to 1800-1830 period. The life style of an early working plantation is interpreted by costumed docents. Open hearth cooking demonstrations on Tuesday & Thursdays.

U.S.S. Kidd/ Naval War Museum
305 S. River Road 225-342-1942                                                  www.usskidd.com Open daily 9-5. A World War II Fletcher Class Destroyer restored to 1945 configuration as a floating museum.

Old State Capitol
100 North Blvd. 225-342-0500. www.sec.state.la.us Open Tues-Sat 10-4, Sun. noon-4
1847 masterpiece of gothic revival architecture designed by James N. Dakin to resemble a Medieval Castle.

Riverfront Park
On the Levee located between the Louisiana Arts and Science Center and the U.S.S. Kidd, a wonderful plaza area for watching the river.

Louisiana Arts and Science Center - Riverside Museum
100 S. River Road (Front St.) 225-344-LASC.                              www.lasm.org Open Tues-Fri 10-3, Sat 10-4, Sun 1-4.
The old Illinois Central Passenger Station, ca. 1925, is renovated as a museum which offers permanent and changing fine arts exhibitions, as well as the Challenger Space Station, Discovery Depot & a proposed Planetarium.

The State Capitol Complex:

Pentagon Barracks Museum
959 Third St. 225-342-1866 www.fhl.org Open Tues-Sat 10-4, Sun noon-4.
Adjacent to the State Capitol. Four brick buildings in a pentagon shape, built in classical revival style ca. 1819-1822. Used as barracks to house U.S. troops. A visitor center and small museum.

The Old Arsenal Museum
State Capitol Grounds 225-342-0401. Open Mon-Fri 9-4.
Built in 1838, important military use in development of the southwest. Exhibits on military history.

Louisiana State Capitol
State Capitol Drive. 225-342-7317 Open daily 8-4:30.
Completed in 1932, this skyscraper (27 floors) is recognized as an Art Deco masterpiece. Observation deck offers a spectacular panoramic view of the river and The capital city.