Old Louisiana State Capitol facts for kids
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Old Louisiana State Capitol
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Old Louisiana State Capitol
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 Location in Baton Rouge Downtown
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| Location | 100 North Boulevard, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States |
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| Area | 4.6 acres (1.9 ha) |
| Built | 1847–1852 |
| Architect | Dakin, James H.; Freret, William A. |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 73000862 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | January 12, 1973 |
| Designated NHL | May 30, 1974 |
The Old Louisiana State Capitol is a special historic building in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. It used to be where Louisiana's government met, like a parliament or congress, from the mid-1800s until 1932. That's when the new, taller capitol building was finished.
This old building looks a lot like a castle! Because of its castle-like design, some people call it the Louisiana Castle or the Castle of Baton Rouge. Today, it's a museum called the Museum of Political History. It helps people learn about Louisiana's past.
The Old Louisiana State Capitol is very important. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. It was also named a National Historic Landmark in 1974.
Building History
In 1846, the government of Louisiana decided to move the state's main offices. They moved them from New Orleans to Baton Rouge. New Orleans was a very big city back then. Some lawmakers thought that having the government in such a large city gave it too much power. Baton Rouge was much smaller, with only about 2,269 people in 1840.
On September 21, 1847, the city of Baton Rouge gave the state a piece of land for the new capitol building. This land sits high on a bluff overlooking the Mississippi River. Some people believe this spot was once marked by a "red stick," or baton rouge, which French explorers said was a Native American meeting place.
A New York architect named James H. Dakin designed the building. Instead of making it look like the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., he designed it to look like a medieval castle. This style is called Neo-Gothic.
Not everyone loved the building. Famous writer Mark Twain once said it was "pathetic" that a "whitewashed castle" was built there. But others, like De Bow's Review, a popular magazine at the time, praised it.
During the American Civil War in 1862, Union forces took over New Orleans. The state government had to leave Baton Rouge. Union soldiers used the capitol building as a prison. Later, African-American troops were stationed there. While it was used by soldiers, the building caught fire twice. This left the beautiful capitol building as an empty, burned-out shell.
By 1882, the statehouse was completely rebuilt. An architect named William Alfred Freret led this work. He added the amazing spiral staircase and the beautiful stained glass dome. These are now main features inside the building. The restored capitol was used until 1932. After that, it was used for different purposes, like offices for veterans' groups.
Museum of Political History
In the 1990s, the Old State Capitol was restored again. Today, it is the Museum of Political History. The outside of the building was recently updated with a tan color, which is different from its old gray stone look. Many events happen here, including an annual ball. At this ball, people dress in old French clothes and re-enact dances from the 18th and 19th centuries.
The museum is in downtown Baton Rouge. It's close to the current capitol building and other important places. These include the Old Louisiana Governor's Mansion, the Louisiana Arts and Science Museum, and the Shaw Center for the Arts.
In 2010, new exhibits were opened at the museum. These were designed by Bob Rogers and his company. The exhibits show off the building's amazing architecture. They also highlight historical items. There's an interactive gallery about past state governors, including Huey P. Long.
One popular attraction is The Ghost of the Castle. This is a theatrical show where visitors meet the ghost of Sarah Morgan Dawson. She was a young woman from Baton Rouge who loved the castle. She wrote about it in her diary. In the show, Sarah's ghost tells the story of the building's challenges. She also shows how everyday Louisianans helped save the castle many times.
It's free to visit the museum. The building is also easy to access for people using wheelchairs.
See also
