Louisiana Old State Capitol

This historic government building was constructed between 1847 and 1852 and it housed the Louisiana Legislature until the new, current capitol building was built between the years of 1929-32. The old capitol is an imposing structure which looks like a medieval fortress as it looks out over the Mississippi River. The capital was gutted by fire during the Civil War, restored, then fell into disrepair when the new capital was built in the early 1930s. During the 1970s some concerned citizens saved the structure and it was again restored after which it was transformed into a museum. Its exhibits include interesting facts on Huey Long, the controversial state governor and senator. "The Ghost of the Castle" is just one of many impressive exhibits featuring multimedia presentations and interactive technology. In 1974 the old capitol was designated a National Historic Landmark for its architecture.