Baton Rouge, Louisiana

===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.