Baton Rouge, Louisiana

==Culture and arts==
[[File:Rivercenterbr.JPG|thumb|Raising Cane's Baton Rouge River Center in Downtown|alt=]]Baton Rouge is a culturally distinct area of Louisiana, where Cajun and Creole Catholic culture from [[Greater New Orleans]] and [[Acadiana]] is syncretized with the African American Baptist culture of the [[Florida Parishes]] and South [[Mississippi]]. The city of Baton Rouge is a "college town" with [[Baton Rouge Community College]], [[Louisiana State University]], [[Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University]], and [[Southern University]] located throughout the city limits; the students of Louisiana State University alone make up 20% of the city population.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-05-24 |title=LSU Admission Requirements in 2022 |url=https://www.turito.com/blog/college-guide/lsu-admission-requirements-in-2022 |access-date=2022-12-13 |website=Turito Blog |language=en |quote=The campus is spread over more than 1000 acres, and it is located in the southern part of Baton Rouge near the Mississippi River. It has a student population of more than 35000, which accounts for up to 20% of the population of Baton Rouge City.}}</ref> In a sizable international population of over 11,300 as of 2008, the largest groups were people of Hispanic and Latino, or [[Vietnamese Americans|Vietnamese]] descent. This contributes to Baton Rouge's unique culture and diversity.

===Arts and theater===
[[File:Shawcenterbr.JPG|thumb|right|[[Shaw Center for the Arts]] in Downtown]]
[[File:Krewe of Southdowns, BR LA Flambeaux Group.jpg|thumb|Southdowns Mardi Gras parade, 2014]]
Baton Rouge has an expanding visual arts scene, which is centered downtown. Professional performing arts organizations include Theatre Baton Rouge, the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra, Baton Rouge Ballet Theatre, Opera Louisiane and Playmakers—a professional Children's Theatre. This increasing collection of venues includes the [[Shaw Center for the Arts]].<ref>{{cite web
|url= http://www.shawcenter.org/
|title= Shaw Center for the Arts
|access-date=April 12, 2008
|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080405192319/http://www.shawcenter.org/ |archive-date= April 5, 2008 |url-status= live }}</ref> Opened in 2005, the facility houses the Brunner Gallery, [[LSU Museum of Art]]; the Manship Theatre; a contemporary art gallery; traveling exhibits; and several eateries. Another prominent facility is the [[Louisiana Art and Science Museum]],<ref>{{cite web
|url= http://www.lasm.org/
|title= Louisiana Arts and Science Museum
|access-date=April 12, 2008
|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080509132044/http://lasm.org/| archive-date= May 9, 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref> which contains the Irene W. Pennington Planetarium, traveling art exhibits, space displays, and an ancient Egyptian section. Several smaller art galleries, including the [[Baton Rouge Gallery]], offering a range of local art, are scattered throughout the city.

The city has several designated arts and cultural districts,<ref>{{cite web |title=Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism |url = http://www.crt.state.la.us/culturaldistricts/ |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090226233154/http://www.crt.state.la.us/culturaldistricts |archive-date=February 26, 2009 |access-date=May 4, 2012 }}</ref> the most prominent of which are the Mid-City Cultural District and the Perkins Road Arts District. These districts provide tax incentives, mostly in the form of exempting state tax on purchases, to promote cultural activity in these areas. Located in a Qualified Census Tract the North Baton Rouge community of [[Scotlandville, Baton Rouge, Louisiana|Scotlandville]] was designated a Cultural District in 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |title=NINE NEW CULTURAL DISTRICTS ANNOUNCED {{!}} Louisiana DCRT News |url=https://www.crt.state.la.us/dataprojects/webactive/NewsStory.asp?NewsID=388 |access-date=2023-03-19 |website=www.crt.state.la.us}}</ref>

A performing arts scene is emerging. LSU's [[Swine Palace]] is the foremost theatre company in the city, largely made up of students of LSU's MFA acting program, as well as professional actors and stage managers.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.swinepalace.org/ |title=The Premier Professional Theatre of Louisiana |publisher=Swine Palace |date=July 18, 2012 |access-date=November 10, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121029040600/http://www.swinepalace.org/ |archive-date=October 29, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> A group of physical theatre and circus artists from LSU traveled to [[Edinburgh]], Scotland, in summer 2012 to perform ''Dante'' in what has become the world's largest [[Edinburgh Festival Fringe|Fringe Festival]]. The show ran in Baton Rouge before going to Fringe, and featured movement, acrobatics, and [[aerial silk]].<ref>{{cite web |date=March 9, 2012 |title=LSU Department of Theatre to Present "Dante" March 27 – April 6 in Movement Studio |url=http://www.lsu.edu/ur/ocur/lsunews/MediaCenter/News/2012/03/item44688.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120604231028/http://www.lsu.edu/ur/ocur/lsunews/MediaCenter/News/2012/03/item44688.html |archive-date=June 4, 2012 |access-date=November 10, 2012 |website=Louisiana State University}}</ref>

Theatre Baton Rouge offers a diverse selection of live theatre performances. Opera Louisiane is Baton Rouge's only professional opera company.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About |url=https://www.operalouisiane.com/about |access-date=2022-12-13 |website=Opera Louisiane |language=en}}</ref> The Baton Rouge Ballet Theatre is Baton Rouge's professional ballet company. ''The Nutcracker– A Tale from the Bayou'' sets the familiar holiday classic in 19th-century Louisiana and has become a Baton Rouge holiday tradition. ''A Tale from the Bayou'' features professional dancers, a live orchestra, and more than 300 area children.

Baton Rouge is also home to Forward Arts, a youth writing organization. Forward Arts won the international youth poetry slam, Brave New Voices in 2017, and was the first team from the Southern United States to ever win the competition. Forward Arts is the only youth spoken-word organization in the state of Louisiana. It was founded by Dr. Anna West in 2005, and first housed in the Big Buddy Program.<ref>{{cite web
 |url         = http://www.brrivercenter.com/site.php
 |title       = Baton Rouge River Center
 |access-date  = April 12, 2008
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20080416215237/http://brrivercenter.com/site.php
 |archive-date = April 16, 2008
 |url-status     = dead
 |df          = mdy-all
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.brlt.org/
|title=Baton Rouge Little Theater
|access-date=April 12, 2008
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080409233633/http://www.brlt.org/
|archive-date=April 9, 2008
|url-status=dead
|df=mdy-all
}}</ref>

Baton Rouge is also home to Of Moving Colors Productions, the premier contemporary dance company in the city.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About Us |url=https://www.ofmovingcolors.org/omc-directors |access-date=2022-12-13 |website=Of Moving Colors |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Of Moving Colors announces its 2022-23 season |url=https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/entertainment_life/article_caa51e44-0c4b-11ed-963e-971e8cea952a.html |access-date=2022-12-13 |website=The Advocate |date=July 30, 2022 |language=en}}</ref> For more than 30 years it has brought in internationally established choreographers to create stunning performances. In addition, they conduct extensive community outreach to children and young adults.

Performing venues include the [[Baton Rouge River Center]], Baton Rouge River Center Theatre for the Performing Arts, which seats about 1,900; the Manship Theatre, which is located in the Shaw Center for the Arts and seats 350; and the Reilly Theater, which is home to [[Swine Palace]], a nonprofit professional theater company associated with the Louisiana State University Department of Theatre.

The [[Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra]] has operated since 1947 and currently performs at the River Center Music Hall downtown.<ref name="brso.org">{{cite web |url=http://www.brso.org/ |title=Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra |publisher=Brso.org |access-date=April 27, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110505091423/http://www.brso.org/ |archive-date=May 5, 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> Today, it presents more than 60 concerts annually, directed by [[Timothy Muffitt]] and David Torns.<ref name="brso.org" /> The BRSO's educational component, the Louisiana Youth Orchestra, made its debut in 1984. It includes almost 180 musicians under the age of 20.

===Miss USA pageants===
[[File:Miss Louisiana Brittany Guidry Miss USA 2014.png|thumb|Miss Louisiana USA Brittany Guidry, Miss USA 2014, Preliminary Evening Gown Competition]]

Baton Rouge was chosen to host the [[Miss USA 2014]] Pageant. It took over [[downtown Baton Rouge]] as [[Nia Sanchez]], Miss Nevada USA, took home the crown, with Miss Louisiana USA Brittany Guidry coming in fourth. Veteran pageant host Giuliana Rancic and [[MSNBC]] news anchor Thomas Roberts introduced the 51 contestants; there were 20 semifinalists. ''Cosmo'' weighed in on the contest, complimenting Guidry.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.today.com/style/miss-usa-2014-baton-rouge-2D79777027|title=Miss Nevada wins Miss USA crown in Baton Rouge|first=Brooke|last=Lefferts|date=June 9, 2014 |access-date=August 26, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170827085326/https://www.today.com/style/miss-usa-2014-baton-rouge-2D79777027|archive-date=August 27, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Celebrity judges included actress [[Rumer Willis]], NBA star [[Karl Malone]], singer [[Lance Bass]], and actor [[Ian Ziering]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.missuniverse.com/missusa/news/view/259|title=Miss USA : News<!-- Bot generated title -->|access-date=August 26, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314064712/http://missuniverse.com/missusa/news/view/259#.U5tcpY1dVXc|archive-date=March 14, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> Baton Rouge hosted [[Miss USA 2015]] again on July 12, 2015, which was won by actress and Miss Oklahoma USA [[Olivia Jordan]]. Baton Rouge was also the site of the 2005 Miss Teen USA Pageant.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.missuniverse.com/missusa/news/view/235|title=Miss USA : News<!-- Bot generated title -->|access-date=August 26, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160402103032/http://www.missuniverse.com/missusa/news/view/235#.U5tdVI1dVXc|archive-date=April 2, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Tourism and recreation===
{{See also|Points of Interest of Baton Rouge}}
[[File:USS Kidd at sunset, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.jpg|thumb|[[USS Kidd (DD-661)|USS ''Kidd'']], located downtown on the river, is part of the Louisiana Naval Museum.]]
[[File:African American Museum, Baton Rouge.jpg|left|thumb|193x193px|The [[Odell S. Williams Now And Then African-American Museum|Now And Then African-American Museum]]]]
Baton Rouge's many architectural points of interest range from antebellum to modern. The neo-gothic [[Old Louisiana State Capitol]] was built in the 1850s as the first statehouse in Baton Rouge. It was later replaced by the 450-ft-tall, art deco New [[Louisiana State Capitol]], the tallest building in the South when it was completed. Several plantation homes in the area, such as [[Magnolia Mound Plantation House]], [[Myrtles Plantation]], and [[Nottoway Plantation]], showcase antebellum-era architecture.

Louisiana State University has more than 250 buildings in [[Italian Renaissance]] style, one of the nation's largest college stadiums, and many live oaks. The downtown has several examples of modern and contemporary buildings, including the [[Louisiana State Museum - Baton Rouge|Capitol Park Museum]].<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.225batonrouge.com/places/louisiana-state-museum/| title= Louisiana State Museum| access-date= April 14, 2008| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080413092340/http://www.225batonrouge.com/places/louisiana-state-museum/| archive-date= April 13, 2008| url-status= dead| df= mdy-all}}</ref>

A number of structures, including the [[Baton Rouge River Center]], Louisiana State Library, LSU Student Union, Louisiana Naval Museum, Bluebonnet Swamp Interpretive Center, Louisiana Arts and Sciences Center, [[Louisiana State Archive and Research Library]], and the [[Pennington Biomedical Research Center]], were designed by local architect John Desmond.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/17120296.html |title=News {{pipe}} Architect Desmond dies—Baton Rouge, LA |publisher=2theadvocate.com |access-date=April 27, 2011| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110522042404/http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/17120296.html| archive-date= May 22, 2011 | url-status= live}}</ref> The [[Pentagon Barracks]] Museum and Visitors Center is within the barracks complex and the [[Yazoo and Mississippi Valley Railroad Company Depot]] houses the Louisiana Art and Science Museum.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lasm.org|title=LOUISIANA ART AND SCIENCE MUSEUM|publisher=www.lasm.org|access-date=May 29, 2008| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080605002714/http://lasm.org/| archive-date= June 5, 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref>

Museums around town offer a variety of genres. The Capitol Park Museum and the Old Louisiana State Capitol Museum display information on state history and have many interactive exhibits. The Shaw Center for the Arts and the Louisiana Art and Science Museum showcase varied arts. LASM also includes science exhibits and a [[planetarium]]. Other museums include the [[LSU Museum of Natural Science]] and the [[USS Kidd (DD-661)|USS'' Kidd'']]. The [[Odell S. Williams Now And Then African-American Museum]] chronicles the progression and growth of African-Americans.

Other attractions include the [[Mall of Louisiana]] and Perkins Rowe, amusement parks of Dixie Landin'/Blue Bayou, and dining at the Louisiana-cuisine restaurants.