Capital Region
Marked by the tallest state capitol in the U.S. that is still watched over by the powerful Louisiana politician Huey Long, Baton Rouge features a vibrant riverfront and downtown museums. The capital city is also the gateway to the Great River Road and the forested rolling hills of the Feliciana’s that were once the home of the short-lived Republic of West Florida.
Louisiana State Motto
The Louisiana state motto is written on the state flag, it’s part of the official state seal, and the words hang above government buildings. Despite all of the public displays,…
LSU Museum of Natural Science
Although the LSU Museum of Natural Sciences has been around for decades, it remains a hidden gem at the state’s largest university. The museum is tucked away in Foster Hall,…
The Disease at Carville
For much of the 20th century, people diagnosed with disease of leprosy were sent to Carville, Louisiana, a federal treatment center along the Mississippi River south of Baton Rouge. Anne…
Atchafalaya Swamp
The Atchafalaya Swamp, an expansive and intricate wilderness nestled in the heart of Louisiana, is a critical floodway for the Mississippi River, and has seen impacts from the timber and…
Handwritten Letters
Handwritten letters, the ones crafted with a pen and bottle of ink, may be a dying art. However, for those who appreciate history and a more personal way of communication,…
Louisiana Meteor Crater
Scientists working for the Louisiana Geological Survey believe they may have discovered a large crater caused by the impact of a meteor more than 10,000 years ago. The crater, more…
Louisiana Nature Trail
This Louisiana nature trail offers a beautiful walk in the woods in the gentle hills near St. Francisville. The area was once home to artist and naturalist John James Audubon.…
West Baton Rouge Museum
jamming to old time music Once a month the West Baton Rouge Museum hosts a gathering of musicians and those who enjoy listening to a jam session featuring “old time…
Mississippi River Shrimp
In a state known for its bountiful saltwater seafood, there is a lesser-known freshwater shrimp that generations of River Parish residents catch in the mighty Mississippi River. And a few…
The Capitol Huey Long Built
In the 1930’s, this Louisiana skyscraper reflected the style of America’s tallest buildings. The State Capitol opened in 1932, a year after the Empire State Building in New York. This…
Botanic Garden in Baton Rouge
For more than 40 years, this downtown location was the first airport in Baton Rouge. The airfield relocated to another site north of the city in the 1970’s. And the…
Saint Francisville and its Japanese-American Garden
Most of the plants and flowers in this garden in Saint Francisville, Louisiana, are common in the South. But the style of trimming, the stone ornaments and traditional Japanese gates…
Continue Reading Saint Francisville and its Japanese-American Garden
Tickfaw State Park
All boardwalks temporarily closed due to Hurricane Ida damage. Tickfaw State Park at Springfield is the perfect place for nature lovers to explore several Louisiana habitats. You can walk through…
Biking the Beast
You probably don’t expect to find a challenging mountain bike trail in Louisiana, a state known for its flat land and swamps. But biking “The Beast” in St. Francisville will…
Atchafalaya Basin Keeper
Venture deep into the Atchafalaya Basin Swamp, the largest river swamp in the United States. The Atchafalaya stretches 140 miles from central Louisiana to the Gulf of Mexico. A funny…
Shine a Light on a Dark Past
For the past 25 years, the River Road African American Museum in Donaldsonville has been collecting artifacts and digging into the history of the rural area that was the center…
USS Kidd
This World War Two destroyer survived a direct hit by a Kamikaze airplane in the Battle of Okinawa. Today the Navy ship is a dockside museum in Baton Rouge. If…