6 Movies Filmed at the Old Governor’s Mansion in Baton Rouge

Did you know Baton Rouge has its own little slice of Hollywood?

Louisiana earned the nickname "Hollywood South" for good reason, and the Old Louisiana Governor's Mansion is one of the Capital City's most camera-ready backdrops. A worthy stop on Louisiana’s Film Trail, complete with grand columns, gleaming chandeliers, and presidential-inspired charm, it's no surprise that filmmakers continually choose this location. Let’s explore six movies that used the Old Governor’s Mansion as a set, plus how you can walk through the rooms where the cameras rolled.

A grand, ornate, and winding staircase inside the Old Governor's Mansion with warm lighting inside a foyer with black-and-white checkered tiles.

The Role of Old Governor's Mansion in Hollywood South

Built in 1930 under Governor Huey P. Long, the Old Governor's Mansion, often called "Louisiana's White House," has a striking, Georgian Revival look that serves as an ideal stand-in for everything from Depression-era Texas to a fictional college dean's office. With 15,000 square feet of grandeur to choose from, the ballroom, marble staircase, the library, and period rooms give productions instant old-school elegance. Over the years, the built-in ambiance has landed the mansion roles in films spanning decades, genres, and A-list casts.

Credit|Courtesy of Pitch Perfect 2 - Universal Pictures

1. Pitch Perfect 2 | 2015

Barden University needed an office worthy of a college full of a cappella drama, and the mansion delivered. If you've watched Fat Amy and the Bellas navigate campus politics, you've already seen a piece of the mansion on screen, standing in for the university's administrative offices. The scene, shot in the library, lends a regal air to the moment the Bellas get called in for disciplinary action.

Credit|Courtesy of National Treasure: Edge of History - Constellation Entertainment

2. National Treasure: Edge of History | 2022

In this Disney+ series, the Mansion's ballroom became the setting for a pivotal clue in the young adventurers' treasure hunt, tied to one of Meriwether Lewis's journals from the Louisiana Purchase expedition. Baton Rouge plays itself throughout the series, giving locals and visitors a chance to shout, "I've been there!" in recognition.

Credit|Courtesy of The Highwaymen - Netflix

3. The Highwaymen | 2019

For this Netflix film starring Kevin Costner and Woody Harrelson as the retired Texas Rangers who hunted down Bonnie and Clyde, the mansion transformed into the home of Texas Governor "Ma" Ferguson. Crews spent weeks adorning the grounds with classic cars and era-appropriate details to recreate life in the 1930s, returning the mansion to the exact decade in which it was built.

Credit|Courtesy of The Loss of a Teardrop Diamond - Constellation Entertainment

4. The Loss of a Teardrop Diamond | 2008

Based on a long-lost Tennessee Williams screenplay, this Depression-era Southern drama starring Bryce Dallas Howard and Chris Evans leaned on Baton Rouge's historic architecture to set the stage for its tale of old-money families and high society in the South. The mansion's period rooms lent an authentic sense of place, grounding the story in the same history it was written to represent.

Credit|Courtesy of Zipper - Protozoa Pictures

5. Zipper | 2015

This political thriller starring Patrick Wilson followed an ambitious state prosecutor whose career took a scandalous and dramatic turn. Given the mansion's actual history as the seat of Louisiana's executive branch, it made a fitting location for a tale of political ambition and consequence.

Credit|Courtesy of Re-Election - Footprint Features

6. Re-Election | 2025

This indie comedy starring Tony Danza brought its production to Baton Rouge, adding the mansion to its list of filming locations. In the plot, the main character's former adolescent rival grows up to become the Governor, and the production selected the Old Governor’s Mansion to film scenes that required a stately, governmental setting.

Walk Through the Scenes Yourself

You don't need a film permit to see these spaces in person. The Old Governor's Mansion offers free self-guided tours Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., plus the first Sunday of each month from noon to 4 p.m. Prefer a guide? Guided tours can be booked in advance and run 30 minutes to an hour, offering a great option for groups or field trips. When touring the mansion, ask the staff which rooms have appeared on screen and inquire about behind-the-scenes lore. Challenge yourself and see if you can spot a familiar chandelier, painting, or staircase from a movie you've watched.

Want to line up the exact shot? Download the SetJetters app before you go. It's a travel app that helps fans discover the real filming locations behind their favorite scenes. It delivers an interactive map, in-app camera tools to recreate a scene, plus points and badges for each location you visit.

Whether you're looking for an indoor activity in Baton Rouge on a rainy day or interested in exploring historic homes in Louisiana, an Old Governor's Mansion tour is an easy, free way to spend an afternoon. It's one of the most impressive displays of Baton Rouge architecture with a side of Hollywood glitz and glamour.

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