16. ST. JOSEPH CATHEDRAL
City: Baton Rouge, LA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (225) 387-5928
Description: This Gothic Revival church is the third to stand on land donated in 1809 by Don Antonio Gras, a Spanish resident. It was designed by Jesuit architect Reverend John Cambiasco and constructed between 1853 and 1856. The steeple dates from 1891. Two important sculptures are at the church. A major work, a massive crucifix, by Ivan Mestrovic, assisted by Frank Hayden, is above the altar. A second sculpture, Prodigal Son, by Ivan Mestrovic, resides in the side garden.
17. THIRD STREET
City: Baton Rouge, LA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Description: The historical heart of the city, Third Street has the atmosphere of an early 1900s town, with a mix of commercial architectural styles. The buildings house retail, office, residential, and night spots. It’s the place to “see and be seen” during power lunches. The street is booming as an entertainment district with wine bars, cafes, and night spots. During the day catch a ride here on the convenient trolley that circles the downtown district.
18. USS KIDD AND VETERANS Memorial
City: Baton Rouge, LA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (225) 342-1942
Address: 305 South River Rd.
Description: USS Kidd, a World War II Fletcher-class destroyer, was restored to 1945 configuration as a floating museum and national landmark. It floats during spring floods on the Mississippi River, and during the fall and winter, it rests in a specially designed cradle. The ship is named after Rear Admiral Isaac C. Kidd, who was killed aboard his flagship, the USS Arizona, during the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. The museum contains the largest ship model collection in the South, historic artifacts, Veterans Hall of Honor, a riverboat pilothouse, USS Constitution gun deck exhibit, and the Louisiana Memorial Plaza with the names of more than 7,000 Louisiana natives killed in combat. Gift shop open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
19. ENCHANTED MANSION: A DOLL MUSEUM
City: Baton Rouge, LA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (225) 769-0005
Address: 190 Lee Dr.
Description: Filled with fantasy and delight, the Enchanted Mansion is the land of angels, fairies, antiques, and exceptional one-of-a-kind dolls created by gifted artists. Gabrella, an animated fairy, greets guests as they enter. Visit Ted. E. Bear’s playroom and walk through a life-sized Victorian dollhouse. The sole purpose of the museum is to benefit the handicapped. There is no fee for handicapped visitors.
City: Baton Rouge, LA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Address: 118 Highland Rd.
City: Baton Rouge, LA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Address: 4560 Essen Lane (I-10 at Essen)
22. Odell S. Williams Now & Then Museum of African American History
City: Baton Rouge, LA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (225) 343-4411
Address: 538 South Blvd.
Description: The Odell S. Williams Now & Then Museum of African American History is situated on the southern perimeter of Beauregard Town. The museum showcases African-American contributors in science, medicine, and politics. Also featured are displays on minority inventions, rural artifacts, and African art. The museum features Juneteenth memorabilia, marking the end of slavery in the U.S, and is a faith-based initiative of New St. Luke Baptist Church.
23. AUDUBON STATE HISTORIC SITE
City: Baton Rouge, LA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (225) 635-3739, (888) 677-2838
Address: 11788 La. 965
Description: Oakley Plantation Home at Audubon State Historic Site is a West Indies–style home with unique features that helped relieve residents from summer heat. John James Audubon lived here for several months in 1821 while teaching the owner’s daughter. While at Oakley, Audubon painted part of his “Birds of America” series. Grounds include an outside kitchen, kitchen garden, two slave cabins, an 1870 barn, and a nature trail through magnolia and poplar trees. The well-organized museum contains details on the area and memorabilia from early residents and a picnic area. Open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. House tours 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
24. BOCAGE PLANTATION
City: Baton Rouge, LA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (225) 588-8000
Address: 3950 La. 942
Description: Bocage Plantation began as a Creole cottage built in 1801 by Marius Pons Bringier as a wedding gift for his daughter Francoise. She was married to Christophe Colomb, a French refugee and a direct descendant of Christopher Columbus. The current mansion, which faces the Mississippi River, was designed by architect James Dakin in 1837. Meticulously restored by Marion Rundell, it features his superb collection of antiques, including pieces by John Henry Butler, John and Joseph Meeks, and Charles Lee. The plantation takes bed-and-breakfast reservations. Tours are offered Thursday through Sunday.
25. BREC’S MAGNOLIA MOUND
City: Baton Rouge, LA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (225) 343-4955
Address: 2161 Nicholson Drive
Description: A French Creole house built in the 1790s, Magnolia Mound is one of the oldest houses in Baton Rouge. The house contains carefully restored and documented Louisiana-made furnishings and decorative arts. Expect well-versed guides in costumes from the Federal Period. There’s also a crop garden, pigeonnier, overseer’s house, and museum store. Hours are Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday, 1 to 4 p.m.
26. BUTLER GREENWOOD
City: Baton Rouge, LA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (225) 635-6312
Address: 8345 U.S. 61
Description: This plantation house built in the 1790s is still owned by the original family. View the impressive furniture original to the house and a fascinating collection of family heirlooms and artifacts. Along the drive to the house, view camellias, azaleas, and magnolias in gardens planted long ago. Butler Greenwood offers daily tours and bed-and-breakfast in whimsical private cottages. Tours daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
27. COTTAGE PLANTATION
City: Baton Rouge, LA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (225) 635-3674
Address: 10528 U.S. 61
Description: The oldest plantation complex in the area, the house sits on its original Spanish land grant. The English country mansion features an exceptionally long front gallery. There are many buildings, including the old school house, milk house, carriage house, and slave houses. The cottage also operates as a bed-and-breakfast. Tours are offered 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
28. DESTREHAN PLANTATION
City: Baton Rouge, LA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (985) 664-9315
Address: 13034 River Rd.
Description: Destrehan is the oldest surviving plantation house in the lower Mississippi Valley. It was built in 1787 by a free man of color for the wealthy Destrehan family. The two-story house features open galleries on three sides of the house. Costumed docents give visitors the history of the house and the families who lived there. Visit the gift shop and outbuildings.
29. EVERGREEN Plantation
City: Baton Rouge, LA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (985) 497-3837
Address: 4677 La. 18
Description: Evergreen Plantation, circa 1790, is the most intact plantation complex in the South with 37 buildings, including 22 slave houses in their original double row configuration. The plantation’s history is heavily documented. Emphasis is placed on the plantation’s early dependence on slave labor and, following the Civil War, on the labor of free African Americans. A visit includes the Main House, filled with an impressive collection of antiques, and a walk down an alley of 100 oak trees more than 100 years old. Gates open at 11 for the 11:30 tour and at 1:30 for a 2 p.m. tour.
30. GREENWOOD PLANTATION
City: Baton Rouge, LA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (225) 655-4475
Address: 6838 Highland Rd.
Description: The 1830 Greek Revival mansion burned and was rebuilt by the Barnes family following detailed research. It has been featured in seven movies, including Louisiana, Drango, North and South–Book I, North and South–Book II, and Sister, Sister. Tours are offered in spring and summer 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and winter 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. It also has bed-and-breakfast accommodations overlooking a scenic pond.