Local area

LSU is located in Baton Rouge, the capital of Louisiana. Baton Rouge means “Red Stick” and was named by French explorers in 1699. From the Italian Renaissance architecture to Mike the Tiger's beautiful habitat, LSU has multiple attractions that are perfect for a walking tour. Conveniently located at the corner of Highland Road and Dalrymple Drive, make the Welcome Center your first stop when visiting campus. The Welcome Center can offer visitor parking passes, answer parking questions, etc.

Southern University's campus encompasses 512 acres, with an agricultural experimental station on an additional 372-acre site, five miles north of the main campus on Scott's Bluff overlooking the Mississippi River in the northern section of Baton Rouge. Southern University's 13 intercollegiate athletics teams are known as the Jaguars and members of the SWAC Conference.

The Louisiana State Capitol is the Tallest Capitol in the US! It is one of only four skyscraper capitols in the country and one of only nine capitol buildings that does not have a dome. The building contains 249,000 square feet and sits on 27 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds. The building has been the site of many of Louisiana's historical moments, and many historical figures have graced its halls. Also, one of the most tragic events in Louisiana history occurred here.

Featuring exhibitions of internationally renowned artists, a permanent art collection, innovative programming in the state-of-the-art Pennington planetarium, the Louisiana Art & Science Museum seeks to enhance the understanding and appreciation of art and science for general audiences and students. LASM is a place where art and science connect to encourage discovery, inspire creativity, and foster the pursuit of knowledge.

The Shaw Center for the Arts is a gathering place for viewing art, listening to music, watching dancers and movies, seeing dramas, and for dining. The building covers an entire city block in downtown Baton Rouge and features a captivating view of the Mississippi River. Its showplaces are The Manship Theatre, LSU Museum of Art, Glassell Gallery, and the River Terrace.

The Old Governor’s Mansion is located on a live oak-lined boulevard in downtown Baton Rouge, just four blocks from the Mississippi River. Nine governors and their families lived in the Georgian-style home. See how the governors and their families lived during the middle of the last century. Check out the hidden staircase to the bedrooms. Glide down the American marble staircase. Look closely at the artisan chandeliers and hand-printed French wallpaper.

The LSU Rural Life Museum is а museum of Louisiana history in Baton Rouge, US & located in the Burden Museum & Gardens, a 400-acre agricultural research experiment station, & is operated under the aegis of Louisiana State University. The Rural Life Museum commemorates the contributions made by its various cultural groups through interpretive programs and events throughout the year. The main portion of the museum is outdoors & consists of homes & outbuildings built in the 18th and 19th centuries.

The Old Louisiana State Capitol, also known as the State House, is a historic government building, and now a museum. It housed the Louisiana State Legislature from the mid-19th century until the current capitol tower building was constructed from 1929-32. It is a National Historic Landmark standing high on a bluff overlooking the Mississippi River. It houses the Museum of Political History which contains several state-of-the-art exhibits.

Built in 1963 when Jimmy Davis was Governor of Louisiana, the Mansion is located on Capitol Lake near the State Capitol. Gov. and Mrs. Davis instructed the architects to design a mansion in the Greek Revival style, which was the dominant style in Louisiana after 1830. This period marks a distinct departure from earlier Louisiana architecture. The Mansion contains a total of 25,000 square feet of space in three floors and a basement.

Baton Rouge's mesmerizing star attraction—The Irene W. Pennington Planetarium—houses a 60-foot domed theater that is one of the most sophisticated multimedia presentation venues in the country. The theater presents digital movies and sky shows using the most advanced visual and sound technology available. A 4K fulldome digital video projection system puts you in the center of the action, enveloped by a 5.1, 15,000-watt digital surround sound system.

A new gaming, dining and entertainment destination has arrived in Louisiana! The Queen Baton Rouge offers a royal experience with more than 700 gaming machines, 18 gaming tables and even more ways to win in the DraftKings Sportsbook. Savor rustic American cuisine and take in live entertainment in 1717 KITCHEN + COCKTAILS. Enjoy a big bite of a Shaq-sized chicken sandwich at Big Chicken; fresh pan-Asian cuisine at 3 Woks Noodle Bar; or indulge in a coffee or treat at Capitol Coffee Baton Rouge.

From Louis Armstrong to Huey P. Long, from Mardi Gras to fais-do-do, and from the nation-building commerce of the Mississippi River to the life-sustaining bounty of the Gulf of Mexico, the Capitol Park Museum provides a panoramic exploration of the most vibrant state in America.

Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center is a 103-acre facility dedicated to conservation, education, recreation and tourism. It houses an award-winning, 9500-square-foot building filled with live animal exhibits; photographic presentations of the site's flora and fauna; natural artifact and mineral displays; and a sizeable, vintage waterfowl decoy carving collection. Ecology and art exhibits are featured periodically.