Our gymnast daughter got the opportunity to attend Region 8 National Team Training Camp on the campus of LSU in Baton Rouge. Because she is an avid Tiger gymnastics fan, we've made the 6-hour drive to BR several times. This is probably our 5th-6th time to visit. Typically, our visits have been in the dead of summer....when it's so hot it makes exploring miserable. However, this time we made the trek in mid-September when the temps weren't in the triple digits, which made sightseeing more exciting.
Our first stop was to visit Mike VII the Tiger. The current Mike the Tiger is #7 or #8, depending on which story you believe. Mike's habitat is impressive and he is a fun way to watch. Positioned between Tiger Stadium and the PMAC (Pete Maravich Center), this is a must-see when close by. There is no admission fee to see Mike.
After dropping off the kiddo at the LSU gymnastics training facility, we headed to Magnolia Mound. We have passed the entrance to this plantation a million times driving from the campus to downtown and finally took the opportunity to stop in.
Magnolia Mound Plantation is the home of one of the oldest wooden buildings in Louisiana. The current historic grounds cover approximately 16 acres, with the Plantation in its prime covering 900 acres. As a working plantation, it was on the banks of the Mississippi River and was a huge producer of sugar cane.
When visiting, the first stop is the Visitor's Center. At the Visitor's Center, you can view 2 10-minute videos about the Plantation. There is also a diorama depicting how the Plantation looked during its prime. From there you can either take a guided tour ($12) or a self-guided tour ($5) through the grounds. We chose the self-guided tour and made our way to visit the home (can only enter with a guided tour), the outdoor kitchen, the garden, the overseer's house, the quarter house, and more.
It was an interesting look into a different life. The self-guided tour didn't take very long and for $5, it was well worth it.
Our next stop was the Old State Capitol Building. We really weren't sure what to expect here but it had free admission so we thought we would take our chances. It is a stunning building, both inside and out. The staff was friendly and helpful. The exhibit was created to show the history of the building as well as the political career of Huey Long. As an out-of-stater, I had no idea of the career of Huey Long. Throughout our multiple times on the LSU campus we've passed the Huey Long Fieldhouse a thousand times....so I had always assumed he was affiliated with sports at LSU, not recognizing his service roles throughout the state.
I am glad we took the time to visit. The architecture is interesting and he exhibits are informative.
Interestingly, we left the Old State Capitol to go to the new state Capitol. Our day of exploring was on Saturday, and I imagine if we had gone during the week there would have been much more hustle and bustle. When you enter, you are required to empty your pockets and go through a metal detector. After doing so, the staff made us feel very welcome, gave us a pamphlet, and we began on our way. Entering on the 1st floor takes you into the rotunda. You can check out both the Senate and the House Chambers. We were most excited about going to the observation deck on floor 27. To get there you take the elevators up to the 24th floor and then get on a different elevator that will take you to he 27th floor. These elevators open into a gift shop with access to the outdoor deck. The deck is pretty small but walks all the way around the building giving great views.
The Louisiana Capitol Building is the tallest Capitol building in the nation. Definitely worth the visit. It's a fast stop, so even if you don't have much time you should definitely make this a stop.
After leaving the Capitol Building we walked across the grassy park to the Capitol Park Museum. It was a short, enjoyable walk.
Our last stop during this day of exploring was the Capitol Park Museum. This is a very impressive museum. Honestly, I wasn't expecting much but this was a WONDERFUL museum. Full of Louisiana history (including a full size shrimp boat) this museum does a wonderful job of showcasing the good (and the bad) of the state. Give yourself at least 3 hours to appreciate all that this museum has to offer.
There is so much to see and do in Baton Rouge. We loved visiting these 5 destinations. Plus, BR has a great food scene. We had a great visit and we are sure you will too!
Laissez les bons temps rouler!!
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