Pentagon Barracks

Pentagon Barracks is a complex of four two-story brick buildings arranged in a five-sided shape on the Mississippi River bank in downtown Baton Rouge. The structures now serve as private residences for state lawmakers and house offices of the Louisiana lieutenant governor within the State Capitol grounds.

The complex was built by the United States Army between 1819 and 1829 to house soldiers and remained active military quarters until 1877. The site experienced changing control under French, British, Spanish, and American forces, including a period under the independent Republic of West Florida in 1810.

The barracks served as a gathering place for different military traditions and periods of American history. Visitors can still see traces of this varied past reflected in how the buildings are arranged and maintained.

The buildings are part of the State Capitol Complex and can be viewed from the outside, though they are not open to the public as they contain private residences. Visitors should appreciate the architecture and riverfront setting from the public areas of the Capitol Grounds.

The site served as a posting for several notable military commanders including Zachary Taylor, Robert E. Lee, and Jefferson Davis at different points in their careers. This connection to significant figures in American military history makes the location particularly noteworthy for those interested in the period.