After the rain stopped this morning we thought it would be a good idea to visit Baton Rouge, the Louisiana state capitol city. It remained cloudy all day with occasional spots of light rain.

The historic 160-year-old Old State Capitol building overlooks the Mississippi River. A newer Capitol building is on the other side of town. This old one is now a political museum. Admission is free.

Historic Old Capitol Building in Baton Rouge

The first thing you see upon entering is a beautiful spiral staircase. The attendant there handed us a self-guided tour paper and we went off to explore the building on our own.

Louisiana’s Old State Capitol

Looking straight up from the staircase is a beautiful stained glass dome.

Louisiana’s Old State Capitol

The main floor included several rooms of Louisiana’s political history as well as much about the history of Baton Rouge, including the 1935 assassination of Governor Huey P. Long. The 2nd floor holds the governor’s portrait gallery. There is also supposed to be a ghost here. The Ghost Hunters TV crew was here last year to investigate it. It is the ghost of Sarah Morgan from the Civil-War era who loved the castle. We did not meet her.

Across from the Old Capitol, behind the levee, is the Mississippi River. The city has dressed up the levee into a lovely park, a big boat dock, and a riverwalk. Also permanently docked at the park is the USS Kidd, the centerpiece of Louisiana Naval War Memorial.

Riverfront Plaza

Big Boat Dock

Riverwalk

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

• Gasoline Expense:  $47 @ $3.19
• Lodging Expense:   none
• Admission Fees:  none