List of tourist attractions in Baton Rouge, Louisiana facts for kids
Baton Rouge, the capital city of Louisiana, is a super cool place with lots to see and do! It's located right on the Mississippi River and is full of history, fun parks, and amazing museums. Whether you love animals, exciting rides, or learning new things, Baton Rouge has something for everyone. Let's explore some of the most interesting spots in the city!
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Awesome Buildings and Campuses
Baton Rouge has some really special buildings, from historic landmarks to modern universities.
Historic Buildings
This amazing building looks like a castle! It used to be where Louisiana's government met. Now, it's a museum where you can learn all about the state's history and how its government works.
This is the current state capitol building, and it's super tall! In fact, it's the tallest state capitol building in the entire United States. You can often visit and see where important decisions are made for Louisiana.
Built way back in 1822, these historic barracks once housed soldiers. Today, they are home to a museum and visitors center. You can explore the history of the area and even see where some state officials have offices.
- Huey P. Long Field House
This building used to be a student center for LSU. When it was first built, it had the largest indoor swimming pool in the whole country! Imagine how big that pool must have been!
- Yazoo and Mississippi Valley Railroad Company Depot
This old train station is now home to the Louisiana Arts and Science Museum. It's a beautiful building with a style called Classical Revival, which means it looks a bit like ancient Greek or Roman buildings.
Cool University Campuses
LSU is a huge university known for its awesome sports teams, especially the Tigers! It's also special because it's one of only a few universities in the U.S. that are "land-grant," "sea-grant," and "space-grant" research centers. This means they do important research related to land, oceans, and even space!
This is another famous university in Baton Rouge. Southern University is one of the most well-known historically black colleges and universities in the country, with a rich history and strong traditions.
Fun Places for Events
Baton Rouge has many large places where people gather for sports, concerts, and other exciting events.
Sports Stadiums and Arenas
- Tiger Stadium
If you love football, you'll want to see Tiger Stadium! This is where the LSU Tigers football team plays, and it's known for being one of the loudest and most exciting stadiums in college football.
- Alex Box Stadium/Skip Bertman Field
This is the baseball stadium for LSU. You can catch a thrilling college baseball game here and cheer on the Tigers!
- Pete Maravich Assembly Center
Often called the "PMAC," this big arena is home to LSU's basketball, volleyball, and gymnastics teams. It's named after Pete Maravich, a legendary LSU basketball player.
- A.W. Mumford Stadium
This stadium is where Southern University's football and track teams compete.
- F.G. Clark Center
This is the basketball arena for Southern University, where you can watch exciting college basketball games.
- Memorial Stadium
This football stadium was built in 1956 to honor the brave men and women from Baton Rouge who served in the two World Wars and the Korean War.
- Pete Goldsby Field
This is a baseball stadium that hosts various local baseball games.
Entertainment Complexes
- Baton Rouge River Center and Baton Rouge River Center Arena
This is a large complex where you can find all sorts of entertainment, from concerts and shows to conventions.
Amazing Parks and Gardens
Baton Rouge is full of beautiful green spaces, perfect for exploring nature or having an adventure.
Animal Encounters and Thrills
Get ready to meet animals from all over the world at the Baton Rouge Zoo! It's home to over 1,800 animals and was the first zoo in Louisiana to be recognized for its excellent animal care by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
- Blue Bayou Waterpark
Cool off and have a blast at Blue Bayou Waterpark! It has more than 20 water rides, including favorites like the "Mad Moccasin" and "Conja."
- Dixie Landin' Amusement Park
Right next to the waterpark, Dixie Landin' has 26 exciting rides and plenty of games. You can ride the "Ragin' Cajun" or the "Flyin' Tigers" for an adrenaline rush!
Nature and Relaxation
- Independence Park Botanic Gardens
This beautiful garden is a peaceful place to explore different types of plants. It has a lovely rose garden, a sensory garden (where you can touch and smell plants), and even a children's forest!
- LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens
Located on a huge 440-acre green space, these gardens are part of the Burden Museum & Gardens. You can wander through different themed areas like the Children's Garden, the Tropical Garden, and the Historic Windrush Gardens. Scientists also do important research here on plants and crops.
- Laurens Henry Cohn, Sr Memorial Plant Arboretum
This arboretum is like a living museum of trees and shrubs. It has over 120 different kinds of trees and plants spread across 16 acres.
- Capitol Lakes
These lakes are located just north of the State Capitol building, offering a nice view and a peaceful spot for a walk.
- LSU University Lakes
These scenic lakes are near the LSU campus and are popular for walking, jogging, and enjoying the outdoors.
- City Park Golf Course
If you enjoy golf, this is Baton Rouge's very first public golf course.
Fascinating Museums
Baton Rouge has many museums where you can learn about art, science, history, and even natural wonders.
- Louisiana Arts and Science Museum
Located in the old train depot, this museum has amazing art and science exhibits. You can explore an Ancient Egypt Gallery, see traveling art shows, and visit the Irene W. Pennington Planetarium for awesome fulldome shows about space!
Found within the Shaw Center for the Arts, this museum has about 4,000 art pieces. It focuses on American, British, and especially Louisiana art.
- Louisiana Museum of Natural History
This is one of the largest natural history museums in the south-central U.S., with over 2.5 million specimens! It's a great place to learn about animals, plants, and fossils from Louisiana and beyond.
- LSU Rural Life Museum
This museum helps us remember the contributions of different cultural groups in Baton Rouge. It has programs and events throughout the year that show what life was like in the past.
If you love stars and planets, this is the place for you! It's an observatory where you can learn about astronomy and even look through telescopes during public events.
- African-American Art Museum
This museum showcases beautiful art created by African-American artists.
- Louisiana State Museum - Baton Rouge
This museum tells the story of Louisiana's history and culture.
- The Old Arsenal Powder Magazine
Built around 1838, this historic building was once used to store gunpowder. It's now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
This historic house was built around 1791 and is a rare example of early architecture influenced by settlers from France and the West Indies.
- Mount Hope Plantation
Another historic plantation house that offers a glimpse into the past.
- Poplar Grove Plantation
This unique house actually started as a pavilion at a big exhibition in New Orleans in 1884! It was then moved upriver on a barge in 1886 to become a home.
This is a real United States Navy destroyer ship that you can visit! It's named after Rear Admiral Isaac C. Kidd, who was a hero during the attack on Pearl Harbor. Exploring the USS Kidd is like stepping back in time onto a naval vessel.
Shopping Spots
Baton Rouge has many places where you can find all sorts of stores and restaurants.
This is a large, two-level shopping mall with over 150 stores, including big department stores and a food court. It's a great place to find clothes, electronics, and more. There's even a big movie theater!
- Perkins Rowe
This is like a small town within the city! Perkins Rowe has many stores, restaurants, a movie theater, and even hotels. It's a fun place to walk around, shop, and grab a bite to eat.
- Siegen MarketPlace
This is a big outdoor shopping area with many popular chain stores and restaurants.
- Towne Center
This is an open-air shopping center right in the middle of Baton Rouge. It has a mix of local shops and national brands, plus restaurants.
- Tanger Outlet
Located a short drive from Baton Rouge in Gonzales, this outlet shopping center has over 50 outlet stores where you can find great deals.
Images for kids
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Arsenal Park overlooking Capitol Lake
