The Exterior


The old Louisiana State capitol, also called “Louisiana Castle” or “The Castle of Baton Rouge,” was designed by James H. Dakin and built between 1847 and 1852. I argue that the building has been a controversial part of Louisiana history because it has been inhabited by many divisive figures, such as Huey P. Long, who have made debatable choices regarding the state and its people, and it uses rhetorical devices, such as logos and pathos to persuade its customers. The capitol building was moved from New Orleans to Baton Rouge because many representatives around different parts of Louisiana feared New Orleans having too much power. The land donated by the city of Baton Rouge for the building is the same land that some believe used to be marked by a red stick (giving the city its name). It stands on a large hill, overlooking the Mississippi River. During the Civil War, the state government was temporarily moved from Baton Rouge when it was taken over by Union troops. They used it as a prison and a garrison separately, but it caught on fire twice and had to be rebuilt in 1882.

The physical building is 450 ft and was made in the gothic-style. It is a tannish-white color, and it was built to resemble a medieval-style castle. It has gold details and a wrought-iron fence surrounding the grounds. There is a large staircase that goes up the hill and leads to the front doors. The capitol needed to be built on high ground to avoid flooding when the Mississippi River rises. There were originally turrets on the roof, but they were removed during one of the renovation processes that took place after there was significant damage caused by a fire. The state persuades people to visit the museum by making general admission tickets free. 

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