The city of Baton Rouge is among the most exciting places that everyone visiting the state of Louisiana should explore. This is because many exciting spots and historical places await those willing to spend some time and effort visiting the city’s top tourist destinations. Thus, Baton Rouge tourism continues to flourish.
However, to ensure you’ll get the best overall experience, you should place the following visit must-haves on top of your list.
1. LSU Museum of Art
The LSU Museum of Art is one of the top Baton Rouge tourism spots that foreign and local tourists would love to check out when they are in the city. The museum, founded in 1959, opened to the public in 1962 and moved to the city’s Shaw Center for the Arts, the only museum in the town.
The museum is home to various touring exhibitions featuring regional, American, and European painting, photography, works on paper, and decorative arts. It also holds a permanent collection of about 6,500 objects, including a collection of Chinese jade and public collections of Louisiana art. Based on the museum’s records, they serve more than 20,000 children and adult visitors annually.
2. Mike the Tiger Habitat
Mike the Tiger Habitat is the home to the Louisiana State University’s official living and costumed mascot named “Mike.” It started as a 2,000-square feet enclosure for the tiger when it arrived on campus in 1936. However, a new habitat worth $3 million was built for Mike in 2005 by the Torre Design Consortium, LTD, and became one of the Baton Rouge tourism attractions.
The creation of the new habitat extended Mike’s enclosure to about 15,000 square feet. Aside from that, the habitat became equipped with state-of-the-art technologies and various amenities like rocky plateaus, a waterfall, lush paintings, and a flowing stream.
The habitat also features facilities designed for interpretive, recreational, and research programs. All these treats and Mike’s presence in the habitat make the place one of the Baton Rouge tourism attractions that accept about 100,000 visitors yearly.
3. Magnolia Mound Plantation
The Magnolia Mound Plantation is another Baton Rouge tourism booster. The plantation, which includes a house and several outbuildings depicting the vernacular architectural influence of some early settlers, is located about a mile south of the city’s downtown area.
It is owned by Baton Rouge and maintained by the city’s Recreation Commission (BREC). The house, which serves as one of the plantation’s attractions, was included on the National Register of Historic Places list and continues to entice thousands of visitors annually.
4. Old State Capitol Building
The Old State Capitol Building is the most significant Baton Rouge tourism booster. The building was originally a 165-year-old statehouse on a bluff overlooking the legendary Mississippi River. But, aside from its century appearance, the building is a testament to the city’s active citizenship and bold leadership.
The Louisiana Legislature placed the Old State Capitol Building under the jurisdiction of the secretary of state in 1990. Due to this, funds were appropriated to finance the building’s major restoration. It was reopened in 1994 as the Center for Political and Government History and is presently referred to as the city’s Museum of Political History.
5. Red Stick Farmers Market
Finally, the Red Stick Farmers Market is also included as one of the Baton Rouge tourism boosters because it continues to drive more visitors into the city.
The market was born in November 1996 and made its first sale in the parking lot owned by a government building on downtown Baton Rouge’s St. Louis Street. The first contributors to the market were the farmers recruited by Chris Company to participate in the city’s first farmer’s market.
The group eventually evolved and became the Big River Economic and Agricultural Development Alliance (BREADA). In the same year, they were recognized as a non-profit organization. Since then, BREADA has engaged in various activities to increase small farmers’ access to economic opportunities.
BREADA was approached and convinced in 2002 to relocate the iconic farmer’s market. The effort resulted in the market’s relocation to the area close to the 5th and Main Streets. The initiative also gave way to creating a dynamic public marketplace to be enjoyed by the city’s downtown community and visitors.
Bottomline
The city of Baton Rouge is not only an area that is pleasing to the eyes. Instead, it is a place with a rich history and vibrant culture. Also, it’s home to many Baton Rouge tourism boosters that attract local and foreign tourists to experience all the good things the city can offer. So, if ever you find yourself strolling in the busy streets of this historic town, consider paying the said Baton Rouge tourism attractions a visit.
