Downtown Baton Rouge

Rising from the banks of the Mississippi, Downtown Baton Rouge is more than the home of the Louisiana state capitol. It’s a vibrant area filled with arts, culture and a very long history. When the first Europeans reached the area in 1699, it was teeming with wildlife and had been occupied by Native Americans for thousands of years. Whether the name Baton Rouge originates from the Choctaw word “Istrouma,” meaning red stick, or simply from the French explorers seeing a game dressing post, it has stuck. More than 300 years later, elements from each important phase of its history remain evident, and the theme for this current era is revitalization.

Local Realtor Heather Kirkpatrick, with Keller Williams Realty Premier Partners, says, “Downtown has everything. Historical neighborhoods like Spanish Town from the 1800s, and the architectural design, feel, and character is really unique. We have one of the tallest state capitols in the US, and it’s a beautiful building. There’s a riverwalk on the levee ... and the USS Kidd is parked there.”

While living in Downtown now offers easy access to work and fun, it wasn’t always that way. “Downtown is undergoing a revitalization. It’s been predominantly state offices for years, so trying to live downtown was difficult. There was no grocery store, but in the last 7 years, they’ve changed that. There’s life after the offices shut down now.”

Homes in the Downtown area are a mix of apartment buildings, condominiums, townhouses, and historic homes from the 1800s through the early 1950s. Strolling through the streets of Downtown, you’ll encounter Spanish-style homes, duplexes, Craftsman, and even an occasional contemporary house. The lawns here are well-maintained and often beautifully landscaped. Prices range from $300,000 to over $1 million.

Downtown is also home to the Louisiana Art and Science Museum. It occupies a historic 1925 railroad depot and seeks to create a community of lifelong explorers by educating and entertaining people of all ages. Situated on the Mississippi River, the museum features traditional art galleries, interactive science and art galleries for kids, and an ancient Egypt gallery with a real mummy from 300 BCE. The Irene W. Pennington Planetarium is the most advanced in Louisiana, and, of course, there’s a fantastic museum store. Accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, an honor only six percent of U.S. Museums have achieved. This year you could be one of the 175,000 guests to visit the over 4,000 objects throughout the collection.

Nearby, the Shaw Center for the Arts is a nonprofit whose mission is to create a vibrant and diverse space for performance, education, and discovery. Split into several different spaces, you can view art, experience live music, dances, dramas, and films, as well as have a fantastic meal at one of the four eateries here. The waterfront complex covers an entire city block and consists of the Manship Theatre, LSU Museum of Art, the Glassell Gallery, and the rentable River Terrace.

Part of the Shaw Center is the amazing rooftop restaurant Tsunami. Mrs. Kirkpatrick says, “Tsunami has rolls with Cajun flair, and it overlooks the river. It’s a great place to catch the sunset.” This local landmark specializes in small plates and diverse Asian dishes. The funky and fancy spot serves up food with Japanese and Eastern flair married with local Southern flavor. Continually evolving, the restaurant invites you to try their happy hour on the 4,000 square foot open terrace overlooking the Mississippi.

Served by the East Baton Rouge Parish Public Schools system, the neighborhood is home to several public, private, and charter institutions. The school district is the second largest in the state of Louisiana and has five magnet schools of excellence and more than 40,000 students.

Downtown Baton Rouge offers its residents historic homes, high-rise apartments and condos, as well as arts and culture amid a revitalizing waterfront.

Written By

K.T. Phillips

Photography Contributed By

Andrew Williams

Video By

Samantha Houtchens