LSU Rural Life Museum

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4560 Essen Lane Baton Rouge, LA 70808
(225) 765-2437

Overview

The Burden Museum & Gardens includes the LSU Rural Life Museum, the LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens and Windrush Gardens. Located at 4560 Essen Lane, just off Interstate-10 in Baton Rouge, LA

The LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens-
The LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens is an expansive collection of specialty gardens, woodlands, wetlands and arboreta. Trees and Trails offers three miles of serene walking paths through the Burden Woods. The Rose Garden, Children's Garden and All-America Selections Display Garden showcase the beauty of plants and flowers and provide educational experiences for gardeners of all ages. No admission is required to tour the gardens.

The LSU Rural Life Museum -
The LSU Rural Life Museum focuses on the ways of life of rural Louisiana during the 18th and 19th centuries. The museum also provides educational and research resources that advance an understanding of the material and cultural heritage of the region.

Windrush Gardens -
Adjacent to the Rural Life Museum, the historic Windrush Gardens comprises five acres of semiformal gardens of the Burden family.

Additional Sights and Features Include:

  • Trees and Trails, a 3-mile system of pedestrian, recreational and educational trails in the Burden Woods, provides opportunities for hiking and interpretive and educational activities for youth and adults
  • The Mosaic Boardwalk at Black Swampguides visitors through a hardwood swamp more than 200 years old.
  • The Children's Garden offers a place to learn about gardening and nutrition. This model garden also provides a location for youth-related organizations and individual families to experience the outdoors, focusing on vegetable, herb and butterfly garden plantings.
  • The Rose Garden is a member of the American Garden Rose Selections program, a nationwide network of approved public gardens, and the American Rose Trials for Sustainability program, maintaining an inventory of 1,100 plants representing 150 varieties. Starting each April, the Rose Garden offers an exclusive preview of the coming year's outstanding new varieties.

Windrush Gardens comprises majestic live oaks and ancient crape myrtles to create a shady canopy over azaleas and camellias, evoking a sense of tranquility and peace. Steele Burden, who was influenced by the gardens of Europe and the surviving gardens of 19th century Louisiana plantations, designed Windrush. The winding paths are ideal for strolling and enjoying the 25 acres of landscaped spaces.

For current hours of operation and admission rates, please visit https://www.lsu.edu/rurallife/

(Pets and picnicking are not allowed on museum grounds.)

** Contact us about the different venues spaces to rent for Special Events, Teas, Celebration, Meetings, Conferences, Weddings or even taking your Bridal or Family pictures.

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