Baton Rouge, Louisiana has numerous museums and historical sites highlighting the Louisiana's rich history, art from around the world, and the sciences.
Baton Rouge, Louisiana has a long and fascinating past. Visitors seeking to explore the history of Baton Rouge can go to the area's various historical sites and museums. In addition to history museums, Baton Rouge also has fine natural science museums and art museums.
Originally called Istrouma, meaning red stick, by local Native Americans, the area was renamed Baton Rouge, which also means red stick, by the French explorers who discovered the region in the 1600's. Although Baton Rouge has kept the same name since then, many other things have changed. Baton Rouge has been controlled by France, England, Spain, West Florida Republic, Louisiana, the Confederate States of America, and the United States of America.
During the tumultuous Civil War period, many soldiers from Louisiana and Arkansas were buried in the Baton Rouge National Cemetery. General Philemon Thomas is among the many buried at this cemetery. An important historical site, the Baton Rouge National Cemetery is open to the public.
Founded by the West Baton Rouge Historical Society, the West Baton Rouge Museum is actually located just outside of Baton Rouge. This museum illustrates many aspects of plantation life. Visitors can see the French Creole Aillet House; a 22-foot hand-crafter, functional sugar mill model; and the pre-Civil War Allendale Plantation Cabin.
The Old State Capitol Center for Political and Governmental History is located in Baton Rouge and overlooks the Mississippi River. The center offers interactive exhibits about the history and government of the United States, with special attention given to Louisiana. The building in which the center is housed is itself historic; the building dates to 1849.
Louisiana State University maintains the Louisiana State University Rural Life Museum. This outdoor museum showcases pre-industrial Louisiana and is located on the 450 acre Burden Research Plantation. Visitors can learn about the past by examining pre-industrial tools and furniture. The museum has exhibits on every day rural life from prehistoric times to the 1900's, folk architecture, and plantation life.
The Louisiana State University also maintains the Louisiana Museum of Natural History. Organized in 1999, this museum combines sixteen collections that were previously maintained by separate divisions of the university. Through the museum, Louisiana State University hopes to increase the public's awareness of biodiversity, geological history, and human history. Visitors can learn about various animals, plants, minerals, and rocks.
The Louisiana Art and Science Museum offers a wide array of exhibits and programs. The museum's permanent art collections include sculpture by Ivan Mestrovic, Southern art, graphic art, photography, ethnographic art and artifacts, and a large Ancient Egyptian Gallery. The museum also features different art exhibits that showcase art from around the world and change periodically.
Space enthusiasts will be delighted by the Louisiana Art and Science Museum's Irene W. Pennington Planetarium, which houses various exhibits and offers visitors the chance to touch a real meteorite. The museum also houses the ExxonMobil Space Theater and the Challenger Learning Center. The Challenger Learning Center offers spaceflight simulation programs for students. The museum also offers various other school programs and events.
Whether you are interested in history, government, art, or space, Baton Rouge has the perfect museums.
