Louisiana State Capitol, Baton Rouge (must see)

The Louisiana State Capitol is the seat of government for the state of Louisiana. It includes chambers for the state's House of Representatives, Senate, and Governor. The Louisiana State Capitol is known for being the tallest capitol building in the United States. At 34 stories tall, it is the tallest building in Baton Rouge and the seventh tallest building in the State of Louisiana.

The building was designed in the Art Deco architectural style by the architect Leon Charles Weiss and his architectural firm Weiss, Dreyfous & Seiferth, well known for the many public buildings it had designed in Louisiana. Construction on the capitol building began in 1930 and was completed in 1932 with a budget of $5 million. It was inspired by the Nebraska State Capitol, the first to use a tower design rather than a traditional dome.

The facade of the building includes several sculptures, reliefs, and friezes. Most of these reflect symbols from the history of Louisiana. There are also portraits of famous Louisianans between the pilasters. Statues on the tower represent Art, Law, Philosophy, and Science.

The building was significantly damaged in 1970 when a bomb, made from approximately two dozen sticks of dynamite, was detonated. Evidence of the bomb remains in the Senate Chamber: a pencil embedded in the ceiling from the force of a bomb. It can still be seen today.

The grounds of the Louisiana State Capitol include the Capitol Garden, a 30-acre garden designed by Leon Weiss. Among its flora are 200-year-old oak trees. There are also flower gardens, including the Louisiana state flower, the magnolia.

The Louisiana State Capitol building and its gardens were placed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1978. The building was also named a U.S. National Historic Landmark in 1982.