US State Capitols: Baton Rouge, Louisiana
The Louisiana State Capitol is a towering 1930s skyscraper.
Date Visited: May 23, 2020
There have been humans in Baton Rouge for a long time, archaeological digs suggest maybe as far back as 12,000 BC. The first white men to come to the area were French explorers and they saw a red stick that marked the hunting grounds between two tribes so the called the place Baton Rouge. The city was incorporated in 1817 and has changed ownership many times. In addition to being part of the United States, Baton Rouge has been Spanish, French, British, Confederate, and part of Baton Rouge (St. Francisville) was even the capital of the briefly formed Republic of West Florida.
When Louisiana was purchased from the French in 1803, New Orleans was the capital. New Orleans however was considered too “sinful” of a city and the capital was moved to Baton Rouge in 1847. The original Baton Rouge capitol was built in 1847 along the Mississippi river and very gothic, kind of like a castle fortress without a drawbridge.
The oldest capitol building is in New Orleans and is now the 5th police precinct building.
The Old 1847 Baton Rouge capitol is now a museum.
The present day capitol building in Baton Rouge was inaugurated in 1932 and is a 34 story limestone skyscraper. The building is forever known as Huey P. Long’s capitol. A controversial figure in Louisiana, he wanted the capitol building to fit his vision of “every man a king”. Ironically, he would also be shot there and now is buried in front forever facing his capitol building.
The seagull is a very prominent feature for Louisiana.
In front of the capitol you can see both French and Spanish soldiers.
AJ shows the capitol steps with all the states and their statehood dates.
The Louisiana State Capitol is a towering 1930s skyscraper.
Family at the capitol door.
In the background you can see the monument and tomb for Huey P. Long
The Pentagon barracks have been the home for 5 different armies.
The town of Baton Rouge is a lovely place to visit. To get there we rented a car from New Orleans that cost about $80 with insurance. The people are more than kind. In fact when we were at the capitol we saw a prayer group that insisted in giving Denise a blessing (probably due to the shady company she was keeping). The drive along the river is spectacular and it was in Baton Rouge that we were introduced to shrimp and grits, which sounds horrible, but it is delicious. As if that weren’t enough, we were plied high with beignets (Louisiana doughnuts).
Denise in front of the State Capitol Museum.
Louis Armstrong is an American original.
Harriet Beacher Stowe who wrote Uncle Tom’s Cabin was from Louisiana.
The Plessy vs. Ferguson case in 1896 maintained the doctrine of “separate but equal”. The problem was nothing was ever equal.
In 1953 Baton Rouge had their own bus boycott. Not as famous as the 1955 Atlanta bus boycott but it was the first.
Poverty Point proves there were ancient civilizations present in Louisiana.
They say that Louisiana Hot Sauce is very spicy but I found it less spicy than Cholula sauce, but it was still fun to try them.
Apparently there are several correct ways to pronounce New Orleans.
If you want to be a queen in Louisiana you have to kiss a frog.
Louisiana was the birth place of many musical styles, the most famous being jazz.
If Louisiana Blues means I get to wear overalls count me in.
Mardi Gras is the undisputed queen of all American parties.
AJ facing the Leviathon float.
The King and Queen Bacchus.
Beignets are the traditional Louisiana doughnut.
Video:
The first thing I want to eat when we travel in the South is shrimp and grits. YUM!