B

aton Rouge, LA Capital

 

April 4-6, 2003





USA flag



We didn't actually stay in Baton Rouge when we visited the capital city of the State of

The Capitol Building was built in 1932 and is a wonderful example of Art Deco and so unlike most other State Capitols that we have seen. The outside of the building was very nicely carved with low and high relief carvings and a couple of very nice statuary groups that immediately reminded Gerry of the statues outside of the U.S. Supreme Court building in Washington D.C. The grounds were manicured and beautifully laid out. But the piece de resistance was the main hall inside the building. Decorated with bronze frieze and marble floor and walls, all in the same art deco style, it is a very lovely room. Huge art deco chandeliers adorn the main hall and each of the chambers for the House and Senate. We tagged along with a guided tour being given to a group of schoolchildren and then wandered a little on our own intending to go up to the observation floor once the kiddies had disappeared.

While wandering around the main hall, Gerry was approached by a couple of guys who asked if he would agree to be interviewed. He said yes, of course, and was asked how he felt about the House and Senate not being in session today when they had only come back after a long recess on Monday. As a tourist, Gerry said he was disappointed not to get to see them, but he sure wasn’t mad at any body. After the interview the camera man took some shots of both of us looking at the House Chamber.

Went up to the observation deck and got some very nice views of the river, the city, and the country beyond. While up there, Jan bought a new wallet and transferred all of her stuff. From there we went down to the ground floor and ate a sandwich in the cafeteria.

After lunch we wandered from the 1932 capitol to its predecessor built a little further south on the same bank. The gothic revival building with its castellations and arched windows looked a bit like a transplanted fairy castle. It had almost been razed when the new one was built, but some stalwart ladies worked hard to protect it and succeeded. Now it’s a museum targeted mostly at school-kids.






Updated August 8, 2003