Louisiana State Capitol, Art Deco capitol building in downtown Baton Rouge, United States
The Louisiana State Capitol is a government tower in central Baton Rouge that climbs to a height of 450 feet (137 meters) over 34 floors. Limestone forms the outer walls, while sculptures and motifs along the facades show episodes from the state's past.
Huey Long, elected governor in 1928, pushed a new capitol through as a symbol against the state's traditional elite, securing funds in January 1930 and starting construction that December. Architects Weiss, Dreyfous and Seiferth modeled it on Nebraska's capitol. The building was completed in 1931 and dedicated on May 16, 1932. In September 1935 Senator Long was fatally shot inside; bullet marks remain on the walls, and he is buried in the park nearby.
The name derives from the Latin term for a government seat, reflecting the building's role as the center of state legislation. Inside, murals and reliefs show scenes from Louisiana's past, while the halls are walked through by local residents and visitors alike.
An observation platform on the 27th floor offers views over Baton Rouge and the Mississippi on several weekdays. Access is through the main entrance, and visitors should allow time for security checks.
The 49 steps of the monumental staircase end at a final step inscribed with the Latin motto "E pluribus unum"; Alaska and Hawaii, admitted in 1959, are represented there because the building was finished long before. The walls still show bullet marks from the September 1935 shooting of Senator Huey Long, who died two days later and is buried in the park beside the capitol.
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