About Us

Minutes away from downtown Baton Rouge, the West Baton Rouge Museum offers diverse rotating exhibits, kid-friendly events, French programs and tours, as well as monthly musical jams, Historical Happy Hour, blacksmithing apprenticeships, art workshops, lectures, and more. 

Located on a six-acre campus directly across the river from the State Capitol, the West Baton Rouge Museum is the only museum to trace the bittersweet history of sugar in Louisiana from the colonial period to the present day. 

A hub of the Port Allen Cultural Arts District, the West Baton Rouge Museum also highlights local artists that have been recognized on an international level. 

Mission Statement

The West Baton Rouge Museum is an educational resource committed to researching, collecting, preserving, and presenting artifacts, documents, art objects, and the like that reflect the history and cultural heritage of West Baton Rouge Parish and the surrounding areas for the benefit of the general public and future generations.

The West Baton Rouge Museum was founded by the West Baton Rouge Historical Association, a 501(c)(3) non-profit in 1968. The two organizations have worked together for over fifty years to preserve the history and cultural heritage of our region. To join the WBR Historical Association and support the West Baton Rouge Museum, click here. 

Since 2009, the West Baton Rouge Museum has been accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. We are on the African American Heritage Trail and are members of the Louisiana Association of Museums, the Southeastern Museums Conference, and the American Association for State and Local History. 

American Alliance of Museums Logo
American Association for State and Local History Logo
Louisiana Association of Museums Logo
Southeastern Museums Conference Logo

Admission Fees

  • Adults: $4.00 + sales tax
  • Seniors, Military, & Students: $2.00 + sales tax
  • Residents of WBR and members of the WBRHA: Free
  • Sales tax rate: 4.5%

Campus

You can access a map of the campus grounds by clicking here.

Building Access 

All campus buildings are ramp accessible, and the Museum has multiple entrances to accommodate visitors with disabilities. To use the front door on the N. Jefferson Ave entrance, pull into the gravel driveway to access the ramp to the front door on the north side of the porch. To view the rest of the interior, there is an accessible entrance near the porch ramp. 

Things to Note

When visiting the Museum for a walk-in tour, please note the following:

  • Main Museum includes permanent exhibits as well as rotating exhibit galleries. Please check our current exhibits here.
  • All tours of historical building interiors on our campus are guided by a staff member and usually take one to two hours.
  • Historical buildings are not well lit or climate controlled.