Attractions

Africa Safari Park The park is located about 35 minutes north of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. From Baton Rouge take Plank Road north (17.5 miles from Metro Airport) turn right onto Highway 959, Travel 4.7 miles, turn right on Highway 409, the park entrance is 1.5 miles down on your left. Closed on Monday & Tuesday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. (Last car at 4 p.m.) closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Years Eve, New Years Carload Day - Every Wednesday, you may bring as many people along as you like, Open to individuals and groups, the Africa Safari Park has over 750 animals with 80 different species being displayed on 168 acres. The park is open to individuals and groups. In addition, the park has 3 safari vehicles which can accommodate larger groups.

Baton Rouge Zoo 3601 Thomas Road Baton Rouge, LA 70807 (225) 775-3877 or visit: 9:30 a.m. - 5 -p.m. Daily 9:30 a.m. - 6 -p.m. Weekends (during daylight saving time) Closed New Years, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, & Christmas Wednesdays 3 p.m. - 5 p.m. Free Admission www.brzoo.org Discover Baton Rouge's #1 family attraction! Over 1800 animals, including white tiger, elephants, giraffes and alligators await you in the beautifully landscaped Zoo. . Visitors of all ages will love KidsZoo, complete with a playground and hands-on animal encounter with farm animals! Your visit is not complete without a scenic ride on the Cypress Bayou Railroad or a narrated tour on the White Tiger Tram.

Bluebonnet Swamp Conservation Area Exit I-10 at Bluebonnet Boulevard; 1 mile south and turn right to: 10503 North Oak Hills Parkway (225) 757-8905 Tuesday - Saturday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Sundays, 12 p.m. - 5 p.m. Explore a unique natural area near the heart of Baton Rouge. Self guided nature trails wind through a magnolia-beech upland forest and into a 65 acre cypress-tupelo swamp. Elevated boardwalks provide complete accessibility. The nature center includes educational exhibits, picnic area, and restroom facilities.

Enchanted Mansion, a Doll Museum 190 Lee Drive (225) 769-0005 Monday, Wednesday - Saturday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Sunday, 1 p.m.- 4 p.m. This museum offers a magical and educational doll exhibit for all ages. A unique museum that entertains and informs its visitors through animation and spectacular exhibits. Afternoon tea is also featured.

Louisiana Arts and Science Center and Challenger Learning Center 100 South River Road (225) 344-9478 Monday - closed Tues - Fri, 10 - 3 Saturday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Sunday, 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. First Sunday of the month admission is Free. Housed in a reconstructed train station, the Louisiana Arts and Science Center offers several exhibits that change each year, as well as a permanent Egyptian tomb exhibit. For the children and "children at heart," there is a hands-on art and science exhibit.

Louisiana Governor's Mansion 1001 Capital Access Road (225) 342-5855 The Governor's Mansion is built in 1963 in modified Greek Revival style as a replica of one of the state's plantation mansions. Open for tours by appointment only.

Louisiana Old State Capitol 100 North Boulevard (225) 342-0500 or 1-800-488-2968 Museum Hours: Monday - special tours only Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Sunday, 12 p.m. - 4 p.m. High on a bluff overlooking the Mississippi River stands the majestic Old State Capitol, a Gothic architectural treasure. Designed and built by James Harrison Dakin, 1847-1850. The nearly 150 year old building has withstood war, fire, scandal, bitter debate, abandonment, and an occasional fistfight.

Louisiana State Capitol State Capitol Drive (225) 342-7317 Daily, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. No admission charged.

The State Capitol is the tallest state capitol in the nation. The tower rises 34 floors above pleasant formal gardens. Visitors can see the city of Baton Rouge, the Mississippi River, and surrounding areas from the 27th-floor observation deck. Steps commemorating the 50 states lead to its entrance. The building is built in Art Deco style with magnificent marble and bronze detailing inside. Completed in 1932.

Louisiana State University Hilltop Arboretum 11855 Highland Road (225) 767-6916 Daily, from dawn to dusk No admission charged. The rolling terrain of the12-acre site is landscaped with a variety of interesting and unique native trees and plants labeled for identification.

Old Arsenal Museum (225) 342-0401 East Capitol Drive Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Sunday, 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. State Capitol Complex, formerly a powder magazine, is located amid the formal gardens of the Louisiana State Capitol Complex.

U.S.S. Kidd and Nautical Historical Center 305 South River Road (225) 342-1942 Daily, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., 7 day a week Closed on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day The U.S.S. Kidd is the only World War II Fletcher Class destroyer meticulously restored. This 369-foot ship is berthed on the Mississippi River in a unique cradle that holds it "high and dry. The adjacent Nautical Historical Center features a P-40 Warhawk fighter plane, a restored "Flying Tiger," and an A7E Corsair attack aircraft. A National Historic Landmark.

Plantation Homes Restored and Opened For Public Tours

Plantation & Antebellum Homes PO Box 546 St. Francisville , Louisiana 225-635-3739 ; 225-635-3739 Picnic area. Nineteenth century plantation living can be seen in Oakley, the home where artist naturalist John James Audubon created many of his famous bird paintings.

Blythewood Plantation 400 Daniel Street Amite , Louisiana 7 985-748-5886

Two miles from I-55 Plantation over 100 years old and over 10,000 square feet. Mansion filled with Victorian and heirloom antiques.

Butler Greenwood Plantation 8345 US Highway 61 St. Francisville , Louisiana 225-635-6312 225-635-6370 Antique-filled historic 1790s plantation on the National Register of Historic Places that includes the area's finest original Victorian formal parlor, live oaks and gardens.

Catalpa Plantation 9508 US Highway 61 St. Francisville , Louisiana 225-635-3372

Choctaw Plantation and Railroad Ellwood Drive Brusly , Louisiana 225-749-2205

Cottage Plantation 10528 Cottage Lane St. Francisville , Louisiana 225-635-3674 Location: 1 mile US Hwy 61, St. Francisville Gift shop, tours, and restaurant. One of the area's most complete plantations, the site includes many original outbuildings, antique furnishings and century-old oaks.

Destrehan Plantation 13034 River Road Destrehan , Louisiana 504-764-9315 504-725-1929 8 miles from New Orleans International airport. Gift shop. Built in 1787-1790, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Costumed docents give history of the house and the families who lived there.

Greenwood Plantation 6838 Highland Road St. Francisville , Lousiana 225-655-4475 225-655-3292 800-259-4475 10 miles from US 61.Gift shop, picnic areas, Built in 1830 in Greek Revival style, Greenwood burned to the ground in 1960, leaving only the columns standing. The home was completely rebuilt to the original specifications.

Houmas House Plantation 40136 Hwy 942 Darrow , Louisiana 225-473-7841 225-474-0480 888-323-8314 Gift shop and food service (with advance notice) Greek Revival mansion (1840) connected to earlier Colonial house (1790). Antique period furniture; costumed guides. "Hush, Hush Sweet Charlotte" starring Bette Davis was filmed here.

Laura: A Creole Plantation 2247 Hwy 18 (Great River Road) Vacherie , Louisiana 225-265-7690 225-265-7960 Guided tours, based on Laura's Memoirs, detail lives of Creole women, slaves, children. Built 1805.

Live Oak 15470 Highway Rosedale , Louisiana 225-648-2346 Gardens, group tours

Madewood Plantation House 20 miles from I-10 4250 Highway 308 Napoleonville , Louisiana 504-369-7151 504-369-9848 800-375-715

Magnolia Mound Plantation 2161 Nicholson Drive Baton Rouge , Louisiana 225-343-4955 225-343-6739 1790's plantation house, reproduction 1800's open-hearth kitchen, 1800's slave cabin, overseer's house & pigeonnier, herb & vegetable garden, cash crop garden. Surrounded by 100-year-old live oaks, the c.1791 house has retained its creole plan and character for over 200 years. It's construction is of cypress beams with the original cypress flooring runs throughout the house.

Mount Hope Plantation 8151 Highland Road Baton Rouge , Louisiana 225-761-7000 225-761-7899 1-888-461-7820 Historic home, circa 1817, listed on the National Register. Four acres of ancient trees and old garden roses. Entertainment and dinners or teas with advance notice. Fine example of a 19th century farmhouse which was settled by German immigrants. Rich history of settlers, Civil War and slaves who lived on property.

Myrtles Plantation 7747 US Highway 61 St. Francisville , Louisiana 225-635-6277 or 225-635-5827 Gift shop, food service, and picnic area. This 200-year-old antebellum plantation features a 120 foot veranda, exquisite ornamental ironwork, hand-painted stained glass and open-pierced firework. The home is also famous for its Aubusson tapestry, Baccarat crystal chandelier, and gold-leafed French furnishings.

Nottoway Plantation 30970 Hwy 405 White Castle , Louisiana 225-545-2730 or 225-545-8632 Tours daily from 9am-5pm. Closed Christmas Day. Experience 19th century southern living in the South's largest plantation home. Visit for an overnight stay, a guided tour or a romantic dining experience.

Oak Alley Plantation 3645 LA Highway 18 Vacherie , Louisiana 225-265-2151 or 225-265-7035 About 60 miles from Baton Rouge or New Orleans. Gift shop, restaurant & B&B(reservation for groups required) Experience a bygone era in the South's most beautiful setting, beginning with the spectacular quarter-mile alley of nearly 300-year-old live oak trees.

Parlange 8211 False River Road New Roads , Louisiana 225-638-8410 Gardens, group tours

Poplar Grove Plantation 3142 North River Road Port Allen , Louisiana 225-344-3913 225-343-8701 10 minutes from downtown Baton Rouge. Food service (with advance notice). Built as a pavilion for 1884 World's Fair in New Orleans and moved by barge in 1886 to its current location. Exotic Victorian mansion with oriental influence, still occupied by original family, National Register of Historic Places.

Rosedown Plantation and Gardens 12501 Highway 10 St. Francisville , Louisiana 225-635-3332 Gift shop, picnic areas and restrooms, theater, reception center. Rosedown's 28-acre garden is one of the nation's five most important historic gardens. Its 1835 house with all of its original contents has made it one of the south's most distinguished house museums for 30 years.

Rosewood Plantation (800) 675-8838 10254 Highway 431 St. Amant , Louisiana Magnificent and unique 1840s manor house created from the remnants of over 40 Louisiana Antebellum homes. Located in the heart of plantation country in Ascension Parish, Rosewood offers accommodations in the mansion or cottages.

San Francisco Plantation-A Historic Plantation House Museum and Gardens 2646 Hwy 44 River Road Garyville , Louisiana 985-535-2341 Only 40-minutes from downtown Baton Rouge The magnificent house features five hand painted mural ceilings, faux marble and bois wood graining. Built in 1856, by Edmond Marmillion in Old Louisiana Colonial - Steamboat Gothic Style, this National Landmark offers a Museum Store, 1830's Slave Cabin, and1840's one-room Schoolhouse nestled under 300 year old Live Oaks. Opened daily for tours with period dressed guides sharing the French and German heritage of the family, slaves, and civil war.

Tezcuco Plantation 3138 Hwy 44 River Road Darrow , Louisiana 504-562-3929 504-562-3923 6 miles from I-10 at Sunshine Bridge. Antique and gift shop, restaurant and Civil War museum. 1855 Greek Revival plantation, listed on the National Register of Historic places.

Smith & Brown Monument Southern University Baton Rouge Campus Baton Rouge , Louisiana 225-771-2011 This monument is in memory of two African-American students, Denver Smith and Leonard Brown, who were killed by authorities in 1972 while participating in a student civil rights demonstration. A marker designates the spot where they were killed. The student union is also named in their honor.

Southern University Museum of Art Southern University Baton Rouge Campus Baton Rouge , Louisiana 225-771-4513 The Southern University Museum of Art is open to visitors as well as to the Baton Rouge local community. It is in Martin L. Harvey Hall, overlooking the bluffs, on the campus of Southern University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Features important works by African American artists from the past and present. Also, provides an opportunity to learn about other aspects of another culture.

LSU Mounds The LSU mounds stand on the northwest corner of the campus. The two mounds, created by Native Americans, functioned as territorial markers or symbols of group identity. In 1982, radiocarbon dating determined that they were built about 5,000 years ago. The mounds are among the oldest preserved Indian mounds in the Western Hemisphere, and have been placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Memorial Tower Tower Drive Baton Rouge , Louisiana Also known as the Campanile, this 175-foot structure was built in 1923 and dedicated in 1926 as a memorial to Louisianians who died in WWI. On the rotunda walls are bronze plaques bearing the names of those to whom the Tower is dedicated. The Memorial Tower also houses the permanent collections of the LSU Museum of Art. Chimes ring every quarter hour. The Cornerstone in front of the tower was excavated from the ruins of Louisiana State Seminary of Learning and Military Academy in Pineville (early LSU) one half describes the history, other half is inscribed with first Board of Supervisors and faculty.

Rural Life Museum and Windrush Gardens 4650 Essen Lane Baton Rouge , Louisiana 225-765-2437 225-765-2639 Located on the 450-acre Burden Research Plantation, Rural Life provides insight into the largely forgotten lifestyles and cultures of pre-industrial Louisiana.

Tiger Cage North Stadium Drive Baton Rouge , Louisiana 225-578-0628 225-578-2430 Just to the north of Tiger Stadium is the home of Mike V, LSU's Bengal tiger mascot. The cage, constructed for the first Mike in 1937, was renovated in 1981 to include a grassy area, a tiger-sized wooden scratching post, a pool, a climbing platform, and an indoor area for use in inclement weather.

Louisiana Arts and Science Center 100 South River Road Baton Rouge , Louisiana 225-344-5272 225-344-9477 Features fine art exhibitions, interactive art and science exhibits, an Egyptian gallery a Challenger Learning Center and a gift shop. Building is a 1920's train depot with five-car train on-site. In 2002, LASC will open a planetarium space theater.

Louisiana Old State Capitol 100 North Boulevard Baton Rouge , Louisiana 225-342-0500 225-342-0361 800-488-2968 Center for Political and Governmental History. This Gothic architectural treasure was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1975. Experience a multimedia presentation, interactive exhibits, political research library, political memorabilia, film and videotapes of state leaders.

Louisiana State Capitol Building State Capitol Drive Baton Rouge , Louisiana 225-342-7317 Gift shop, food