Baton Rouge, LA
Capital of Louisiana
Known as “Red Stick”
Overview
Baton Rouge is the capital city of Louisiana, located in the Southeast region of the United States. Founded in 1699, the city has grown to a population of approximately 227,470 residents within a state of 4,657,757 people. As the seat of Louisiana's state government, Baton Rouge serves as the political and administrative center of the state.
The city is home to the Louisiana State Capitol, a Art Deco structure that has been a landmark since its completion in 1932. Designed by Weiss, Dreyfous & Seiferth, the capitol building stands as a testament to the state's history and governance, attracting visitors from across the country and around the world.
Baton Rouge has served as the capital of Louisiana since 1880. Before Baton Rouge, the state's capital was located in New Orleans, Donaldsonville, Opelousas and Shreveport.
Louisiana State Capitol
The Louisiana State Capitol in Baton Rouge is the tallest state capitol in the United States, soaring 450 feet and 34 stories high. Built at the direction of Governor Huey P. Long, the Art Deco skyscraper was completed in just 14 months during the Great Depression. It is also the site of Long's assassination in 1935, and his grave is located on the surrounding grounds.
Art Deco skyscraper design
Notable Features
- Tallest state capitol in the U.S. at 450 feet / 34 stories
- Art Deco design with sculptural relief panels
- Observation deck on the 27th floor with Mississippi River views
- Memorial Hall with polished marble from around the world
- Huey P. Long's burial site on the capitol grounds
- Built in just 14 months during the Great Depression
Media Gallery
Original footage coming soon! User-submitted photos welcome.
Fun Facts & Trivia
- ★At 450 feet and 34 stories, the Louisiana State Capitol is the tallest capitol building in the United States.
- ★Governor Huey P. Long pushed for the building's construction and was assassinated in its halls in 1935, just three years after it was completed.
- ★The building was constructed in only 14 months, an extraordinary feat for such a massive project.
- ★Baton Rouge means 'red stick' in French, named for a red cypress pole that marked the boundary between two Native American territories.
- ★The 27th-floor observation deck provides panoramic views of the Mississippi River and the surrounding area.
- ★Huey Long is buried on the capitol grounds, with a bronze statue marking his grave.
- ★The Old State Capitol, a Gothic Revival castle on the riverfront, now serves as a museum of political history.