History of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA

1719 - Baton Rouge founded

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1849 - Baton Rouge became capital of Louisiana

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1854 - Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge, a city, capital of the state of Louisiana, and seat of justice of the parish of East Baton Rouge, is situated on the left or E. bank of the Mississippi, 129 miles above New Orleans. It stands on the first bluff or high bank which occurs in ascending the river. This bank is elevated about 25 or 30 feet above the highest overflowings. Baton Rouge has the reputation of being one of the healthiest towns in the southern portion of the Mississippi valley. The esplanade in front of the town presents a delightful view of the majestic Mississippi and the rich tracts of cultivation which line its banks. Below Baton Rouge the broad and deep river sweeps through a plain which is occupied by luxuriant plantations of sugar-cane, and adorned by splendid villas and gardens and groves of tropical fruit trees. To protect these from inundation, a levee or embankment of earth has been raised to the height of 6 or 8 feet. The seat of government was established here in 1847. Since that period... Read MORE...

1862 - May 12 - Federal troops occupies Baton Rouge Louisiana

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1871 - A TERRIFIC TORNADO EXPERIENCED IN LOUISIANA. THE TORNADO IN LOUISIANA. GREAT DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY - TWO NEGROES KILLED AND MANY INJURED --DAMAGE TO BUILDINGS AND BOATS $400,000.
New Orleans, May 4. - A tornado swept over Baton Rouge and vicinity on Tuesday, causing great destruction of property. Trees were uprooted, and bricks and planks were whirled in the air. The north and south walls of the Penitentiary, the roof of the shoe factory, and the cells in the south wing of the building were blown away. The whole second story and roof of the store-house of the United States Arsenal, with 300 feet of the laboratory, (a frame building,) and the roof of one of the powder magazines were rent in fragments. The roof was torn from the Catholic Church, and the cemetery fence was demolished. A large number of frame houses were unroofed, and sustained other damages. The sugarhouse and a number of cabins on the plantation of JOSEPH BERNARD were blown down, and one negro was killed and several were wounded. The sugar-house, gin-house and cabins on the plantation of JAMES McCOLLEN were all destroyed, and many colored persons were severely injured. The sugar-house and all... Read MORE...

1895 - Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge,a city, the capital of Louisiana and of East Baton Rouge parish, is situated on the east bank of the Mississippi River, about 130 miles above New Orleans. It is built on a bluff which is about 25 feet above the river when the water is at its highest stage, and commands a fine view of the river and surrounding plantations. This city was the capital of the state from 1847 till 1864, when the seat of government was removed to New Orleans, where it remained until re established at Baton Rouge, March 1, 1882, by a provision of the constitution of 1879. A daily and 3 weekly news papers are published here. Baton Rouge contains a state prison, an arsenal, and an institution for the education of the deaf, dumb, and blind (which was founded by the state in 1852), and is the seat of the State University, which was formerly at Alexandria; but the edifice of which was destroyed there by fire in 1869. Pop. in 1870,6498; in 1880, 7197; in 1890, 10,478.
Lippincott's Gazetteer of the World: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World Containing Notices of Over One Hundred and Twenty-five Thousand Places ... Joseph Thomas January 1, 1895 J.B. Lippincott

1901 - Barns at the Angola Convict Farm Destroyed by Fire.
Baton Rouge, La., July 9. – One set of barns at Angola state farm, consisting of two buildings, was destroyed by fire at 9 p. m. Monday. The cause of the fire is now known. The property was insured for about half its value. The loss will probably reach $4,000. There was no loss of live stock, the fifty head of mules usually quartered there being probably out in the pasture, as the crops are well advanced.
Times Picayune
New Orleans, Louisiana
July 10, 1901

1916
Baton Rouge, a city, the capital of Louisiana and of East Baton Rouge parish, is situated on the east bank of the Mississippi River, about 130 miles above New Orleans. It is on the Yazoo and Mississippi Valley R., and is built on a bluff which is about 25 feet above the river when the water is at its highest stage, and commands a fine view of the river and surrounding plantations. This city was the capital of the state from 1849 till 1864, when the seat of government was removed to New Or leans, where it remained until re-established at Baton Rouge, March 1, 1880, by a provision of the constitution of 1879. Baton Rouge contains the state capitol, a state prison, an institution for the education of the deaf, dumb, and blind (which was founded by the state in 1852), and a state agricultural experiment station, and is the seat of the State University, which was formerly at Alexandria. The city's industries comprise manufactories of lumber, cotton-seed products, sugar, and ice. The... Read MORE...

1922 - April 4 - WAAB (Baton Rouge La) becomes 1st US radio station with "W" calls

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1928 - PLANE CRASH KILLS TWO.
Baton Rouge, La., April 12. (AP) - Lieutenant KENNETH BOYD, Washington, D. C., and Corporal ERNEST F. KOCH, Van Metre, S. D., were killed yesterday when an airplane in which they were flying nose-dived 1,200 feet into the Mississippi River. The aviators jumped from the falling plane, witnesses said, but were too near the earth to make use of their parachutes. Engine trouble was believed to have caused the accident.
Lancaster Daily Eagle
Ohio
April 12, 1928

1935 - September 8 – Carl Weiss kills Huey Long, U.S. Senator from Louisiana, in the Louisiana Capitol Building in Baton Rouge.

wikipedia.org
September 8, 1935

1951 - BATON ROUGE BLAST WRECKS 3 GAS TANKS. TWO KILLED, 10 INJURED IN GREAT EXPLOSION AT STANDARD OIL.
Baton Rouge, La. - (U.P.) - A thunderous gasoline explosion killed two men and injured 10 and wrecked three 37,000 gallon tanks and two distillate treating units at Standard Oil of New Jersey's North Baton Rouge Refinery today.

The explosion was so violent it shattered plate glass window glass three miles away and blew railroad boxcars and tank cars off their tracks. The fire was controlled in two hours and 45 minutes, but firemen kept pouring Mississippi River waters so there would be no chance of its spreading.
The two victims were J. E. CARMENA and ALFRED PERRY, both Standard employees, W. B. Cotton, Jr., Public Relations Director for the refinery, said. Seven Standard employees were hurt, two seriously, in addition to three Illinois Central Railroad trainmen.

It was not immediately determined what caused the explosion. Walter Cunningham, executive general agent for the I. C. Railroad, said an unidentified trainman told him he saw a flash of light - like lightning - and then ... Read MORE...

1953 - April 19 - WAFB TV channel 9 in Baton Rouge, LA (CBS) begins broadcasting

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1969 - July 31 - National Guard mobilizes in racial disturbances in Baton Rouge, La

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Here's a list of places to go and things to do in Baton Rouge:
Louisiana State Capitol:

Start your visit with a trip to the Louisiana State Capitol. Not only is it an iconic building, but you can also take a guided tour to learn about the state's history and government.

LSU Rural Life Museum:

Explore the LSU Rural Life Museum for a glimpse into Louisiana's agricultural past. The museum features historical buildings and artifacts that showcase life in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Baton Rouge Zoo:

For a family-friendly outing, head to the Baton Rouge Zoo. It's home to over 1,800 animals and offers a variety of exhibits, including the Realm of the Tiger and the Flamingo Cove.

Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center:

Nature enthusiasts will enjoy the Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center. It has walking trails and boardwalks through cypress-tupelo swamps, offering a serene escape from the city.

Old State Capitol:

Visit the Old State Capitol, a Gothic architectural gem that now houses a museum. It provides insight into the state's political ... Read MORE...