Baton Rouge is the capital of the US state of Louisiana. It is situated in the southeastern part of the state, near the Mississippi River, and is an important industrial, petrochemical and port city in the southern United States. It is also one of the most technologically advanced cities in the southern United States.
Baton Rouge was founded in 1699 by French explorer Pierre Le Moyne d’Iberville. The city got its name from the marking of the tribal territory of the original inhabitants – Bayougoula Indians. They marked the boundaries of their territory with decorated fish heads and bear bones, and a large red stake stood near the Red River. The French called this place Baton Rouge.
Today, Baton Rouge is one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas. In 2000, 600,000 people lived here, and in 2008, 770,000 inhabitants. Baton Rouge alone is home to approximately 235,000 people. The city covers an area of 204.8 km2, of which 199 km2 is land and 5.8 km is water.
Baton Rouge is a city full of architecturally interesting buildings, from the oldest styles to the modern. The neo-Gothic Old Louisiana State Capitol, which was built in 1890, was replaced by the 137-meter-tall art-deco New Louisiana State Capitol. The completed new Capitol building was the tallest structure in the US South at the time. The town is also home to several historically valuable homes of wealthy planters, such as Magnolia Mound Plantation House, Myrtles Plantation, and Nottoway Plantation. These houses are a beautiful example of the architecture of their time.
According to iamaccepted, Baton Rouge is home to Louisiana State University, which consists of more than 250 buildings, mostly built in the Italian Renaissance style. Modern buildings adorning the city include, for example, the Louisiana State Museum, the Louisiana Naval Museum and the State Library. There are several nice parks around the city, which are an oasis of calm for local residents. There is also a zoo in Baton Rouge with many species of wild animals. The two largest shopping centers are the Mall of Louisiana and Perkins Rowe. You can also take a trip to the local amusement parks Dixie Landin or Blue Bayou.
Cane River National Heritage Area
In the past, the Cane River area was a place where many different peoples and cultures clashed. Native Indians, Spaniards, French, Africans, Creoles and later Americans lived here. Together, they managed to make the area a livable place, even though they were largely dependent on the river and the surrounding land.
Even today, this area is a well-known agricultural landscape, dotted with buildings of typical Creole architecture and bringing people a rich multicultural heritage. In the past, this region straddled the border between the Spanish and French colonized territories of the New World. Nowadays, a unique mixture of cultures lives here, which are proof of this settlement.
Cane River NHA boasts a number of beautiful historic sites, including seven National Historic Landmarks, three Historic Landmarks, and 24 sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Cane River region covers an area of 35 km2 and many of its monuments are privately owned. Nevertheless, many interesting places are open to the public.
One of the most attractive locations is the town of Natchitoches, which was founded in 1714 by the French colonial army. It is thus the oldest permanent settlement on the territory of Louisiana. Originally it was just a settlement, but gradually it became a prosperous river port and trade center, from where mainly cotton was shipped in large quantities. Today, this town in the southwest of the country is home to around 19,000 inhabitants. In Natchitoches, a large part of historical monuments has been preserved to this day.
In this region, you can come across numerous colonial forts, Creole plantations, churches, historic cemeteries, important archaeological sites and ancient trade centers – in short, rich history is evident at every turn. Moreover, the people who live here today pass on their traditions, customs and culture from generation to generation, thus maintaining the unique character of this place.
