If you love history, the Louisiana Old State Capitol is absolutely worth a visit. It's a fascinating place with a lot of character and historical significance. One of the best parts--there's no fee to get in, which makes it an easy and worthwhile stop. The building has two floors to explore, with both stairs and an elevator available, so it's accessible for most visitors. The highlight is the beautiful stained glass ceiling, which is truly stunning and something you don't want to miss. Overall, a great experience for anyone interested in history or architecture. Highly recommend stopping by if you're in the area! read more

Louisiana Old State Capitol - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Baton Rouge, Louisiana

The capital wasn't open, but it was really awesome. We're gonna go back and try to visit inside. It's definitely a bucket list for Louisiana and it is a great science museum across the way. read more

Louisiana Old State Capitol - Old Capitol - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Baton Rouge, Louisiana

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It was such a pleasure visiting this historic landmark! It carried with it a ton of history and beautiful architecture. It's easy to get to, walking distance from a lot of local restaurants and hotels and it neighbors a park with a scenic view of the port and bridge. When you walk in, you see an ancient staircase that spirals around to the top most level and it's surrounded by pictures of historic figures that were prominent in making Baton Rouge what it is today. What of the things I found most interesting about this experience was reading about the Japanese war brides. They played a crucial role in challenging immigration laws. If you ever get a chance! Check this place out!! read more

Louisiana Old State Capitol - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Wonderful stop to make. A lot of art and facts. The ceiling is also stunning. Staff were very friendly! read more

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If you have any interest in history or architecture, or both, the Old State Capitol is a must visit attraction. And it is free. And air conditioned. If you spend some time reading through the historical exhibits, you could probably spend an hour or two touring the entire two story building. The exhibits are mostly very interesting and the architecture is simply beautiful. This is an attraction which should definitely be seen. I thoroughly enjoyed it. read more

Louisiana Old State Capitol - Entrance. Stunningly beautiful building. - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Baton Rouge, Louisiana

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Remember to look up when ya get inside Lots of great Louisiana history. Very interesting.

FREE Admission! Must see piece of history in Baton Rouge with extensive history exhibits, engaging activities for kids, and a great gift shop. The grounds are very well kept with benches for sitting and observing. This historic site is located in the center of serval downtown attractions as well, easily with walking distance. The stain glass ceiling, governor's portraits, and exhibits available made this visit worth it. There were several engaging exhibits and activities for children throughout. The gift shop was PERFECT without crazy prices and had lots of great Louisiana treasures and souvenirs. I am a huge post card person, and they actually had post cards! Other places to see right in this area are the Old Governor's Mansion, Art and Science Museum, Shaw Center with the LSU Art Museum, the USS KIDD, the Levee walks, bike rentals, all within walking distance. Further, but walkable is the State Capital and several other museums. There is street parking all around this area with payments made every 2 hours digitally costing $1 an hour. There is also a full paid parking lot on the corner of North River Road and Laurel St. read more

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This is an old interesting building . The ladies working there are very friendly..free to look around . Should check it out read more

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What a nice place to visit in Baton Rouge. It was free and full of history. You can walk the halls of history and really feel how work was completed during this era. The workmanship is what will keep you interested. It is well worth your time to visit. read more

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The inside is beautiful, it's a quick visit and it's free self paced. Def stop in if you're in the area! read more

Louisiana Old State Capitol - Exterior - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Baton Rouge, Louisiana

What a great spot! There is a video for $2 you can watch while there that should be better advertised, it was wonderful! It gives the history of the building and the evolution of how it came to be, then how it was restored. All of the exhibits were just perfect. I would recommend this for anyone in the area. The museum itself was free. You may have to pay for parking. I can not begin to say properly how beautiful this building is. Just come. read more

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This place is such a jewel! The building itself is extremely gorgeous with a BEAUTIFUL rotunda. The museum gives interesting history of the grounds, including what happened there during the Civil War. The Huey P. Long section of the museum was fascinating. The room was divided between "hood Huey" which shows many of the good things he accomplished as governor of Louisiana, and "bad Huey" that shows his ruthlessness and bad things he did as governor. I recommend a visit here for anyone who loves history and architecture! read more

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Great historical place to visit. Beautiful building. Terrific film about, Sarah Morgan, the supposed ghost of the building. Variety of historical displays. Very interesting. read more

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This was a free tour. Me and my parents have visited a lot of museums on our trip so it was so hard to take in more information. The outside looks weird without a map you will never guess where it was. The ceiling on the second floor was pretty. Now let's get to the bathroom situation! When we walked in it was overcrowded. Also it smelled awful. When my mom got to her stall. She had to flush the toilet because the person before her had not flushed. There was a line in the bathroom. Me and my mom were so disgusted that we had to get out of the bathroom. Not to mention it was so hot. Me and my mom ended up using her touchland once we got out of the bathroom. It's cool and historical, but I would have rather skipped. read more

WOW. FREE. Great exhibits, history and impressive nooks and crannies to visit. History and pomp unite. LOVELY front desk staff. Nice and cool in the building on a hot day! Don't expect the Newbury Port Mansions. The facilities are not huge, and the visit is on the short side. But don't overlook it! read more

I am going to have to disagree with Mark Twain. The old capitol building is beautiful. My first experience with this castle along the river came as a teenager. My scout troop was camping in Baton Rouge so that we could hike across the city. That hike was close to 12 miles so I am sure we saw many sights, but only a few stuck out in my mind. This building, the new capitol and the USS Kidd. Since this is a listing for the old capitol, I will focus on it. The exterior is impressive. The first thing I thought when seeing it was: "Wow, why is there a castle in downtown Baton Rouge?". The second thing I noticed was the height of the hill on which it was built. I assume this was built this way to prevent flooding, but having the castle built atop the hill sure makes it seem much more intimidating. Inside the beauty continues. It was truly amazing to see the detailed work that went into making this building what it is. While I have seen many different exhibits here, the one that sticks out in my mind the most was the Huey P. Long exhibit, which I believe is a permanent one. As a kid I remember standing up and at a podium and pretending to give one of Gov. Long's famous speeches while reading it from one of those clear glass teleprompter things. Prior to my trip here I had no idea what those things were when I saw them on television. Now that you've heard me extoll the beauty of the place, you may question the four star review. Well, it would most certainly garner a full five stars form me except that the past two times I've tried to visit, it was Sunday and it's closed on Sunday. Sure, I could still stand outside the ornate gate and enjoy the exterior beauty, but I wanted more. The new capitol is open on Sunday so I see no reason why the old one shouldn't be either. read more

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I think the Old State Capitol is quite fascinating and lovely. Maybe that's because it looks like a castle. I always wanted my own castle. It's on a hill. Hills in Louisiana are practically unheard of. Do you know how much fun it is to lay down and roll down a hill? Don't even pretend...you know that's fun. Tours here are interesting and informative. I loved the Huey P. long exhibit the most. I just know that if I'd have had a chance to meet that man we'd be great friends. But there are many things about this place to enjoy besides that. The Gothic architecture is unique and unlike anything else that you'll see in Louisiana. That spiral staircase and the stained glass windows are so pretty. It's worth a visit alone just to see the lovely ballroom, in my opinion. Speaking of the ballroom, did you know you can get married here? That's just super cool. You can marry your prince in a castle! Enough said. read more

Louisiana Old State Capitol - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Let's cut to the chase: this building is jaw-droopingly beautiful. It looks like a fairy tale castle on the outside, and the cast iron staircase inside makes you want to sashay down as ostentatiously as possible. But there's actually a lot of great history to see here, and the historic interpretation is well done and accessible to all. read more

I usually agree with Mark Twain, but not regarding the old state capitol. He famously hated the look of the building, but I thought it looked unique and fun. Naturally it's not an authentic castle but why can't you design a state capitol building that looks like a castle? Sadly all was closed due to covid, I am definitely open to returning once the pandemic has passed. Plenty of metered parking in the area. read more

Louisiana Old State Capitol - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Baton Rouge, Louisiana

The old State Capital is one of the icons n Baton Rouge. I visited the building. I was looking for a parking spot. I parked at some spot in front of the building. It was okay. The admission was " FREE". The capital was relatively small. I enjoyed many exhibits. I was impressed by Huey Long. I learned about his life and assassination. I returned to my car. I googled a lot of things about Louisiana. The Capital was very educational and informative. read more

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This place is like a castle! The inside stained glass and spiral staircase are gorgeous and are the focus point of this state capital! It's beautiful for photos. The exhibits showcase Huey P Long and his assignation. They also have changing exhibits. We got to see one about the Mississippi River steamboats. There is a film called ghost of the castle that they show. It's free to tour the museum and it's worth a trip to do so. read more

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We came here after visiting the current state capitol building and we were very impressed by the quality of the exhibits and the building architecture. I learned a lot about Baton Rouge and Huey Long. I think they did an excellent job of letting the visitor decide what type of leader Huey Long was. I also really appreciated the nod they had to black population and life in Baton Rouge. The staircase and the glasswork on the second floor was stunning! While we were there, a wedding was setting up and I can see why this venue is popular for brides. Definitely worth a visit if checking out downtown! Centrally located across from the Shaw Center and some restaurants. Also close to the riverfront plaza. read more

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Very interesting architecture that appears to be a medieval castle of sorts. Beautiful lawn and well kept grounds with such a relaxing atmosphere will surely attract you at first glance. A definite go to spot when you visit Baton Rogue. read more

A must see if you are in Baton Rouge! Is a beautiful building and they did a great job showing the history! The architecture is preserved. Erg well and you can see that they take pride in maintaining the building. read more

I love history and stained glass so I love the Louisiana Old State Capital. I also like the way they handled slavery and the civil war in the history of Baton Rouge without glamorizing it in any way and calling it what it was. A stain on our history. It's absolutely stunning. They don't make buildings like that anymore! Also there was a temporary fashion exhibit showing dresses inspired by parts of the Old State Capital. The room about Huey Long surprised me because it shows that the tactics between political parties have sadly not changed AT ALL. read more

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Lovely building. A quick tour with friendly staff and amazing architecture. Free admission! read more

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Wow! Seriously. This is a GORGEOUS building. I went to a private party here and so did not get to see all the exhibits...to busy drinking/eating/dancing. Great venue! And the staff was really helpful in planning with our group and making accommodations for folks with limited mobility which is generally pretty difficult in historic buildings. read more

This is a must see if you're in the area. There is no cost to browse through the museum or peek through the entire building. You're going to need AT LEAST an hour to run through and see everything. But ideally, you'd spend 2-3 hours in here. Kid and family friendly. Definitely something for everyone to see. read more

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Me and my son went and loved it . Also it is a free place go on the weekend the meters are. We learned a lot read more

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This place is perfect for the family. It is free and easy to access. I recommend going on a Saturday when parking is free as well. They have a awesome ghost show , which tell the history in a interactive way. The gift shop has something for everyone and okay prices. The museum isn't huge but it is spectacular and a Louisiana Treasure. read more

Louisiana Old State Capitol - Beautiful place for the family to visit and learn some Louisiana history. Plus Free admission!! - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Baton Rouge, Louisiana

The Old State Capitol is really quite nice. It's free admission and you can wander around the first and second floors, seeing the old senate and congress chamber (which looks a lot like a church nowadays), and a few other exhibits. And don't forget the gift shop. The exhibit on Huey Long is quite well done and informative. The room is divided between pro- and anti- Long (his share the wealth vs. his abuse of power). The room displaying information about his assassination offers a few possible theories and has the purported gun itself. The Ghost of the Castle show is definitely worth the $3. It's a 360 degree show in a fairly small room and was super entertaining and informative. The lights flicker, shadows appear on the walls, and you get to learn about the history of the Old State Capitol. It's not really scary though so it would be okay for kids. Really great! read more

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A treasure in Downtown Baton Rouge. A little castle from the outside with beautiful details inside. 2 large rooms are available for functions - I would love to attend an event here someday. There is no admission charge. The ladies at the front desk are kind & made us feel welcome. There are several smaller informative exhibits. The gift shop had quality items; we selected a non-traditional cooking book to bring home. Absolutely worth the visit! read more

We stopped in Baton Rouge to tour the Old State Capitol to break up our drive to Houston from Alabama and I am so glad we did. This old castle was extra beautiful in person and we were extra delighted by the Ghost of the Castle film experience. Touring the Old State Capital is free. Viewing the Ghost of the Castle is $3 a person and takes about 10-15 minutes and is well worth it. This was a truly delightful experience so be sure to check it out. read more

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Baton Rouge's very own castle! Located in the heart of downtown, this iconic and very endearing building adds so much more character to the capital city. It's beautifully landscaped hill-y grounds and architectural grandeur has been the setting for many events and backdrops for many photos. Entering the building is an even greater experience. You walk up the spiraling staircase with stained glass on overhead on the top of the rotunda. Exquisite and majestically enchanting. Prepare to get mesmerized and captivated; it's a like a huge piece of art. The castle is especially gorgeous, when it's set for the holidays, all decked out. Don't forget to catch the "Ghost Of The Castle" show - it's definitely an experience! I have been here for multiple downtown, community events, so if you have never had a chance to see this historic building, it needs to be a must visit. You can learn so much about the Baton Rouge and Louisiana just by visiting! Always be on the lookout for when the building is free to the public and the various events that go on here. read more

This is a must see if you are at all interested in history. They have a self guided tour but everything is really well explained and interesting even if you are not from this state. The movie is a multimedia type presentation "disney" style. Don't miss it!!! read more

If you're interested in Louisiana political history and the antics of famed Huey Long come here. The tour is self-guided and free. However there are not many exhibits! I liked the first floor with Huey long and his political history.... But the second floor was sort of dry. If you're new to the city like me you have to go and learn about your new home. Hopefully on the next few years they will spruce it up more... But we will see read more

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I make it a point to insult Baton Rouge in most of my reviews of things in Baton Rouge, but the Old State Capital is awesome enough that I will, for one time only, refrain. Pros: It looks like a fucking castle. You can roll down that huge hill in the front and no one cares. By far the best state capital I've ever been to (Sorry PA and IA, but Harrisburg and Des Moines have a serious lack of castle and Huey P. Long). Marvel at elegant ballrooms, halls of ineffectual legislating and enough southern tenacity to carpetbag your Yankee ass back across the mason-dixon. Enjoy a Lagniappe Huey P. Long (alias Louisiana Jesus) exhibit. Second Lagniappe, bullet holes from the martyrdom of Huey P. Long! All for free. Cons: read more

I loved stopping here to see the historical site. It was a beauty inside and out. The exhibits inside were extensive and gave me great information on the transformations that occurred throughout the decades. The beautiful details of the building can be spotted down to the hinges of the doors - I really loved our trip here. I look forward to revisiting it when I get the chance. read more

Louisiana Old State Capitol - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Gorgeous Have your wedding here or take fabulous photos. The inside is lovely. There's a lot of information about Louisiana and exhibits everywhere. read more

Baton Rouge's very own castle in the heart of downtown is as beautiful as it is special. I'd definitely recommend everyone to come in and tour the old state capital at least once. The stained glass windows and the stained glass rotunda ceiling is breathtaking. The spiral stairs are beyond beautiful. The ghost story is so much fun to sit through because it's informative, and entertaining. I learned a lot about the history of Baton Rouge and the old and new state capital. It was free to attend and I'm really glad we did. It was also interactive so it's a great experience for all ages, but especially the younger kids. The Huey P exhibits are great as well as the other exhibits chronicling the trials and triumphs of Baton Rouge. Definitely check out the beauty and history of Baton Rouge's very own castle because it is definitely something worth seeing. read more

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