Baton Rouge in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana — The American South (West South Central)

Louisiana's Old State Capitol

North Boulevard at Lafayette

Photographed by Cajun Scrambler, August 6, 2016

1. Louisiana's Old State Capitol Marker

Inscription. Its architectural style has been both celebrated and criticized, but there's no disputing Louisiana's Old State Capitol is one of the nation's most distinct public buildings. Renowned architect James Dakin chose the building's Gothic Revival design. It was completed in 1852.

Badly damaged twice by fire when used as a garrison during the Civil War, the structure was rebuilt in 1882 by William Freret, an architect and engineer. Freret added a stained glass dome, cast iron buttresses, and a large interior spiral staircase. This landmark building housed the Louisiana Legislature until 1932 when it was abandoned for the new State Capitol.

In 1994, a major restoration project transformed the building into the Museum of Political History

Photos: The Louisiana Collection, State Library of Louisiana

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Government & Politics.

Location. 30° 26.835′ N, 91° 11.367′ W. Marker is in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in East Baton Rouge Parish. It is on Lafayette Street north of North Boulevard, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Baton Rouge LA 70802, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Louisiana’s Florida Parishes.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

and in the Great River Road Region.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

the Louisiana Purchase,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Slim Harpo (here, next to this marker); Caroline Durieux

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(here, next to this marker); Site of Spanish Battery, 1779 (a few steps from this marker); Old State Capitol (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Old State Capitol (within shouting distance of this marker); The Founding Of Baton Rouge (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Old State Capitol (within shouting distance of this marker); Merci Train (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Baton Rouge.

Other markers no longer nearby. Old State Capitol (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been confirmed missing); Baton Rouge Confederate Monument (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed).

Photographed by Cajun Scrambler, August 6, 2016

2. Louisiana's Old State Capitol Marker

Photographed by Cajun Scrambler, August 6, 2016

3. Louisiana's Old State Capitol Marker

Louisiana's Old State Capitol image. Click for full size.

August 5, 2016

4. Louisiana's Old State Capitol

Louisiana's Old State Capitol in 1968 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by David Seibert, circa 1968

5. Louisiana's Old State Capitol in 1968

Credits. This page was last revised on August 11, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 8, 2016. This page has been viewed 691 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on August 8, 2016. 2, 3. submitted on August 8, 2016, by Cajun Scrambler of Assumption, Louisiana. 4. submitted on August 8, 2016. 5. submitted on September 16, 2017, by David Seibert of Sandy Springs, Georgia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.