The Governor’s Mansion was built in 1963 when Jimmie Davis was Governor of Louisiana and cost taxpayers nearly one million dollars.
The historical marker at this site commemorates the 1779 Battle of Baton Rouge, not to be confused with the later Civil War battle of the same name. It was the only Revolutionary War battle that occurred in the area that became part of the United States but occurred outside of the original thirteen colonies.
Not to be confused with the Indian mounds on the LSU campus, this mound has beed dated to around 1,000 AD during the Cole Creek culture period. The mound probably had sacred buildings on it and/or a platform from which the chief would address his people. A village likely surrounded the mound. During the 1800s, the mound was used as an officer cemetery for the nearby Baton Rouge Post and Arsenal. Just a few feet from the marker is another historical site commemorating the 1779 Battle of Baton Rouge, the only battle during the American Revolutionary War fought outside of the colonies.
The Weiss House was once the small cottage home of Carl Weiss, the man who, according to the official story, shot prominent Louisiana political figure Huey Long (1893-1935) on September 8, 1935. Long died two days later after surgery failed to save his life; he was only 42 years old. Weiss was the son-in-law of judge Benjamin Pavy, who was one of Long's numerous political opponents. A few months earlier Long accused Weiss' wife of being mixed race and even fired her uncle from his job as a principal and sister from her job as a teacher. In retaliation, the story goes, Weiss decided to take revenge on Long. The house was demolished in 1970.
One of nine Louisiana State Museum, the Capitol Park Museum delves into the cultural, industrial, political and economic history of Louisiana. It features two permanent exhibits: Grounds for Greatness: Louisiana and the Nation, and Experiencing Louisiana: Discovering the Soul of America. Exhibits explore several topics, including the impact of slavery on the state and the subsequent periods of emancipation, Jim Crow, and the Civil Rights movement. Other exhibits explore the state's musical heritage and influence on the rest of the country. Many musical instruments owned by famous artists, including Louis Armstrong, are displayed here. Other highlights on display are the 48-foot shrimp trawler, a two-row sugar cane harvester, an oil well head, a Civil War submarine, and artifacts from steamboats.
Situated just south of the Pentagon Barracks, this marker indicates the location of President Zachary Taylor's home in Baton Rouge. Known as "Old Rough and Ready" for his disheveled appearance and temperament, Taylor served as president for a short period from March 1849-July 1850, when he died suddenly of a stomach illness. He served for forty years in the Army, serving in the American frontier, commanded U.S. forces against Native Americans and during the Mexican-American War (1846-1848). His skill as a commander and victories during the war, notably at Monterrey and Buena Vista, earned him wide respect in the country.
The Pentagon Barracks is named as such for its four, two-story barracks built between 1819-1825 arranged in the shape of a pentagon. Since the early 18th century, the site had long been a strategic military location, protecting the city of Baton Rouge, New Orleans, and access to the rest of the Mississippi River to the north. Today the barracks are home to the Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana and private apartments for state legislators. They were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.
This marker commemorates the the first air mail flight in the United States, which occurred on April 10, 1912. Pilot George Mestache flew a monoplane from City Park in New Orleans to the athletic field at Louisiana State University. He brought with him a 32 pound bag of letters and delivered it to a temporary post office set up at the field.
The Louisiana State Capitol is an Art Deco style building housing the chambers for the Louisiana State Legislature and the office of the Governor of Louisiana. The building stands at 450 feet making it the seventh tallest building in Louisiana and the tallest capitol building in the nation. The building sits on twenty-seven acres that includes the capitol gardens.
This Tour is a Walking Tour.
Get a QR Code for this tour
This short tour circles the Louisiana State Capitol Complex and includes several historical markers as well as museums, buildings, and monuments. Highlights of the tour include the state capitol and the governor's mansion. Visitors to the city will also want to be sure to see the former state capitol located about eight blocks south of the current complex.
