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Baton Rouge Museums Passport
Calling all history lovers and curious explorers! The Baton Rouge Museums Passports invites you on a journey through time, art, and science. Check in via GPS at top sites like the USS KIDD, Louisiana’s Old State Capitol, Old Governor’s Mansion, Baton Rouge Gallery, and more. Discover local stories at your own pace and earn a prize for completing the trail. It's a fun and free way to experience Baton Rouge’s vibrant cultural scene, one museum at a time.
*While the pass is free to download, it does not provide free admission or discounts for participating museums.
Included Locations
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Nestled atop Knock Knock Hill near Baton Rouge’s scenic City-Brooks Community Park, Knock Knock Children’s Museum is a 26,000-square-foot, award-winning facility designed to spark curiosity and inspire lifelong learning through play. With 18 interactive Learning Zones—including the towering Storybook Climber, Art Garden, Go Go Garage, and Crawbaby area for toddlers—children engage in hands-on activities that promote early literacy, creativity, and STEAM exploration. The museum’s mission is to empower children to become readers, creative thinkers, and innovative problem solvers, laying the foundation for lifelong learning. Dedicated to inclusivity, Knock Knock also offers sensory-friendly Play 4 All events and is fully accessible to families of all needs. Whether you're planning a family visit, birthday party, or field trip, Knock Knock is a vibrant destination where learning and fun go hand in hand.
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Louisiana’s Old Governor’s Mansion, located in downtown Baton Rouge, is a stunning example of Classical Revival architecture and a treasured piece of the state’s political history. Built in 1930 under the direction of Governor Huey P. Long, it served as the official residence for nine governors until 1963. Often called "Louisiana’s White House" for its resemblance to the presidential residence, the mansion now operates as a museum showcasing period furnishings, historic artifacts, and exhibits that explore the lives and legacies of Louisiana’s governors. With its grand ballroom, stately columns, and beautifully restored interiors, it’s a popular venue for tours, weddings, and special events, offering visitors a glimpse into the elegance and drama of Louisiana’s past.
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Sited along the Mississippi River in downtown Baton Rouge, the USS KIDD Veterans Museum offers an immersive journey into naval history. The museum features exhibits including a P-40 aircraft, ship models, a full-scale replica of the Old Ironsides gun deck, and the Louisiana Veterans Hall of Honor. The Louisiana Memorial Plaza honors the state's fallen service members, complemented by a Corsair A-7E jet display.
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Magnolia Mound is a beautifully preserved French Creole plantation house and museum located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Built circa 1791, the site offers a rare glimpse into 18th- and 19th-century plantation life, featuring original and reconstructed outbuildings. Spanning 16 acres shaded by ancient oaks, Magnolia Mound hosts educational programs, cultural events, and guided tours that explore the complex history of French Creole culture and the lives of both the landowners and the enslaved individuals who lived and worked there. The museum is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
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The LSU Rural Life Museum holds the largest collection of Louisiana vernacular architecture and the most extensive collection of material culture items from the 18th and 19th centuries. The museum includes 32 historic outbuildings that spread over 25 acres and are divided into four sections: the Working Plantation, the Upland South Region, the Gulf Coast Region, and an Exhibit Barn.
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Discover something new at the LSU Museum of Art. Located on the fifth floor of the Shaw Center for the Arts, the museum hosts contemporary art exhibitions and also features artworks from its permanent collection of over 6,500 objects. Paired with engaging programs and an education space for families, a visit to LSU MOA is perfect for all ages and interests.
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Perched atop a bluff overlooking the Mississippi River, Louisiana’s Old State Capitol—fondly known as the “Castle on the River”—is a must-see destination for visitors to Baton Rouge. This Gothic Revival masterpiece, built in 1847, boasts a stunning stained-glass dome and an iconic cast-iron spiral staircase. The museum offers free admission and features interactive exhibits, including the immersive “Ghost of the Castle” experience. Open Tuesday through Saturday, the museum provides guided and self-guided tours, with multilingual audio options available. Located at 100 North Boulevard in downtown Baton Rouge, the Old State Capitol is a captivating blend of architecture and history, offering an unforgettable experience for all ages.
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Housed in a historic railroad depot on the banks of the Mississippi River, the Louisiana Art & Science Museum offers educational entertainment for visitors of all ages. The art galleries showcase changing fine art exhibitions and selections from the permanent collection. In the interactive art and science galleries designed just for children, creative and enlightening fun comes in many forms. The Ancient Egypt Gallery houses ancient artifacts and a Ptolemaic-era mummy that rests in a re-created rock-cut tomb. The Irene W. Pennington Planetarium features sky shows, large-format films, visual music shows, and galleries devoted to space science. In the Museum Store at the Art & Science Museum, visitors enjoy shopping for unique handcrafted merchandise, books, toys, and a large selection of objects related to the museum's exhibits.
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Located in downtown Baton Rouge, the Capitol Park Museum offers an immersive journey through Louisiana's rich history and vibrant culture. As part of the Louisiana State Museum system, it features two permanent exhibits: "Grounds for Greatness: Louisiana and the Nation" and "Experiencing Louisiana: Discovering the Soul of America." Visitors can explore diverse artifacts, including a 48-foot shrimp trawler, a sugar cane harvester, and a Civil War-era submarine, highlighting the state's agricultural, industrial, and maritime heritage. Interactive displays delve into topics such as Mardi Gras traditions, jazz music, and the contributions of various cultural groups, including Native Americans, French and Spanish colonists, and African Americans.
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Baton Rouge Gallery, founded in 1966, is a multi-media art gallery located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana's historic City Park. Baton Rouge Gallery is one of the United States' oldest artist cooperative organizations and features monthly exhibitions and regular cultural programming events.