Louisiana State Capitol — Attraction in Baton Rouge

This set the negative tone for our entire visit to Louisiana. We arrived at this, the first destination of our Louisiana trip, in pouring rain after driving for seven hours, and the security seemed disgusted that we wanted to visit the capitol. They chastised us for dripping on the floors (after we slogged across the long walk to the building and stood outside for a few minutes to drip off the worst, shake off our umbrellas, and put them in bags), saying that people worked there and we were going to make them slip. (Put rugs in the entrance, for heaven's sake!) They insisted that those of us wearing jackets shove them into umbrella bags, and when they wouldn't fit, we were told we had to leave them outside.

There were no signs and no one offered us directions, but we figured the observation deck had to be up high, so we got in the elevator and rode as high as it went. After a moment of confusion when we arrived in a tiny lobby and had to split the group to get into the smaller elevator across the way and figure out which level's button was unlocked, we arrived at the observation deck. The woman manning the gift shop didn't welcome us or even make eye contact. Fortunately, the rain let up so we were able to go outside and enjoy the view, though the walkway around the tower is so poorly drained that we had to wade through water up to our ankles on one side.

On the way down, we stopped at the second floor because my daughter had noticed a balcony that overlooked the entry, and we wanted a better look at the frieze near the first floor ceiling. We stepped out of the elevator and were quietly admiring the details for a few minutes when a guard below hollered, "Hey, you can't be there! That level is not for visitors! Get down from there!" Nowhere in or near the elevator was there any signage about where visitors were allowed, and we stepped out of the elevator with an employee who didn't tell us we were in the wrong place. We also didn't move from the open balcony area (there were closed doors on either side, well away from where we stood directly in front of the elevator).

We returned to the main lobby, took the barest peek into the house/senate chambers for fear of being shouted at again, and left. Not a single person in our whole experience greeted us (except the random employee who joined us in the elevator), no one offered us any guidance except shouting that we were doing something wrong, and no one said anything to us beyond those chastisements. We've visited numerous state capitol buildings, and this is the only one in which we had a negative experience. Usually public employees are welcoming and helpful, but that was definitely not our experience in Louisiana--both here and in the rest of our visit to Louisiana. When we left the state to continue our road trip, my kids...

The Louisiana State Capitol is an absolute must-see! We were on a road trip from NYC to New Orleans and decided to stop in Baton Rouge since it was so close by, and we are so glad we did. This state capitol is stunning, both inside and out. The architecture and design are breathtaking, and it truly felt like a landmark worthy of representing Louisiana.

From the moment we arrived, the security employees were incredibly friendly and helpful, making us feel welcome right away. We were allowed to explore the building freely at our own pace, which made the experience even more enjoyable.

After passing through security, you can see the Louisiana Senate Chamber on the left and the Louisiana House Chamber on the right. On the day we visited, only the House Chamber was open, and it was stunning—beautifully decorated for the holidays, adding to the charm of the experience. The architecture of the entire building is breathtaking, and we enjoyed how easy it was to navigate.

The highlight for us was visiting the observation floor on the 27th floor. The views were absolutely spectacular, offering a sweeping panorama of Baton Rouge and the surrounding area. It gave us a whole new appreciation for the beauty of Louisiana.

Stopping here added so much to our trip, and it wouldn’t have felt like a complete journey through Louisiana without visiting this iconic building. If you’re in the area or passing through, I highly recommend taking the time to visit—it’s...

The Louisiana State Capitol marks our 12th statehouse visit, and so far, it ranks as one of our favorites. While the exterior didn’t exactly wow me—though that’s probably just personal preference, since I’m not a huge fan of the high-rise style Capitol buildings—we found plenty to appreciate once we stepped inside. One of our favorite exterior features was the grand staircase leading up to the entrance, with each step engraved with the name of a U.S. state in the order it joined the Union. It’s a small but very cool detail that connects the Capitol to the broader story of the country.

Another standout feature on the grounds is the gravesite of Huey P. Long. He’s actually buried upright, facing the Capitol building—a bold and fascinating tribute. I won’t spoil the details here, because it’s much better to learn more about his story for yourself, either by doing a little reading or, even better, taking the official tour.

Inside, the Capitol is absolutely stunning. The artwork, architecture, and numerous monuments and memorials throughout really help bring both the building and Louisiana’s complex history to life. If you can, definitely take the guided tour—ours was led by one of the best guides we’ve had on this whole Capitol bucket list quest. Whether you go the self-guided route or join the tour, this is a statehouse worth visiting. And don’t forget to take in the views from the observation deck at the top—they’re not...