River Road African American Museum, Baton Rouge; (c) SoulOfAmerica
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Baton Rouge
Located alongside the Mississippi River, Baton Rouge is often referred to as the River Capital. It’s a jewel for visitors who desire a taste of Cajun and Creole cuisine, HBCUs, Zydeco Music, Mississippi riverboat casinos, exquisite 19th and early 20th century architecture, historic sites and family attractions. Nearby Oak Alley, Magnolia, Destrehan, Tezcuco and Laura form the largest concentration of restored plantation homes in the South. In short, Baton Rouge is a sampler for the state of Louisiana.
History
On 17 March 1699, Pierre LeMoyne Sieur d’Iberville, a French explorer, gazed upon a bluff high above the Mississippi River and glimpsed a big red stick dripping with blood from the animal and fish heads which hung from it … More
Cultural Sites
One of the only African American museums located on a historic plantation, River Road contains memorabilia relevant to presence of African Americans in the region, including many artifacts from … More
Restaurants and Nightclubs
With names like Chicken Shack, Matchbox Cafe, Jay’s Barbeque, Jackson’s Cafe, Cabin Restaurant you anticipate plenty of down-home cooking, but pay attention to … More
Shops and Galleries
Not a great town for cultural shops, but Baton Rouge has a couple of good bible bookstores and a small gift shop in Southern University Museum of Art … More
Cajun Cuisine
Cajuns are historically bayou dwellers of French-Acadian and Native-American descent. But the backstory, like everything in these parts, is more of a gumbo. Cajuns emerged as a corruption of the term “Acadians” … More
Zydeco Music
Zydeco is derived from the phrase “les haricots sont pas salés” which means, “the snap beans are not salty.” But as you’ll read in this summary, the musical background is a lot spicier … More
Heritage Sites
Baton Rouge metro area is known for large historic plantations. Magnolia Mound Plantation built in 1791, is the oldest and most authentically restored plantation house in the area … More
Family Attractions
Though Baton Rouge Zoo is the region’s #1 family attraction, the city also has a fine Art & Science Museum, USS Kidd Veterans Memorial & Museum, Museum of Natural History, a water park … More
General Attractions
Louisiana State Capitol built during the loved and loathed Huey Long governorship from 1928-1932, is America’s tallest State Capitol. It cost $5 million, which was a scandalous sum for its time … More
The Arts
As a state capitol and college town, Baton Rouge’s legacy includes Old Governor’s Mansion, Old State Capitol, Louisiana State University Shaw Center for the Arts, Louisiana State Museum … More
Lake Charles
Located near Baton Rouge, Lake Charles is a fantastic day trip to experience Cajun and Creole culture at great prices … More
Trivia, Radio Stations and Famous Residents
Since Hurricane Katrina, Baton Rouge has become Louisiana’s largest metro area with 800,000 residents and more … More
