Baton Rouge is one of the 14 states that have the U.S Civil Rights Trail. This means that history is made in this city. It has hosted lots of events in history, including the country’s first bus boycott in 1953 which was led by T.J. Jemison and the 1967 106-mile March which was held to raise awareness against racism and inequalities against African-Americans.
When on the Civil Rights Trail, there are lots of things you can see and do including;
Southern University
The reason why the Southern University appears at the helm of this list despite being an institution of learning like any other is because it is historically the biggest black college in the globe. Built in 1914, this institution is a hotbed of exciting and educative history.
In 1960, Southern students began a revolution by organizing strikes in protest of segregated spaces. Later on, they were threatened with expulsion if they didn’t stop organizing protests, sit-ins, and strikes. But this didn’t stop. Over two thousand students organized demonstrations in March 1960 to honor students who had been arrested, and over a half of the students threatened to leave the institution.
You can tour this campus and learn this interesting history, but you need to book in advance so that proper arrangements can be made.
Odell S. Williams African-American Museum
If you want to learn the history and culture of the African-American population, the Odell S. Williams African-American Museum should be the destination of choice. This place also tells the culture of Baton Rouge. Here, you will see the actual bus from the 1953 bus boycott.
River Road African-American Museum
Another place you should see while on this trail is the River Road African-American Museum. It is a small museum that is known to depict real pictures of African Americans throughout South Louisiana’s history. It displays an array of black inventions and celebrates the successes that the black population has had over the years.
West Baton Rouge Museum
When in this museum, you will be taken on a tour to French Creole homes such as Antebellum-era slave cabins and Aillet House. This tour will help you understand the plantation life of rural Louisiana in the ancient times. There are actual artifacts displayed here, some of which are over three centuries old.
Since Baton Rouge is one of the most notable centers for culture and history in the United States, there are a lot of things to explore in this city. Regardless of what you love, you will find it here in Louisiana’s capital!