Baton Rouge Black History Trail

BATON ROUGE

BL ACK HISTORY TRAIL

EXPLORE THE CHALLENGES AND HARDSHIPS FACED BY AFRICAN AMERICANS THAT HAVE SHAPED THE HISTORY AND CULTURE OF OUR CITY.

Southern University

HISTORY & MUSEUMS

TELLING OUR STORIES

U.S. & Louisiana Civil Rights Trail Stops View the markers at:

What began as a dream more than 136 years ago now serves as a living legacy of determination, commitment and success. The Southern University and A&M College System is the only historically black university system in the U.S. and known as the largest HBCU in the country. This storied university is famous for both past and present, from playing a vital role in the civil rights movement to bringing the house down with The Human Jukebox every Saturday in the Fall.

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tate Capitol - In 1967 a group of activists S marched 105 miles from Bogalusa, demanding to be heard at the steps of the Louisiana State Capitol.

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rooks Park Pool - The first safe, Black B swimming pool, organized by Rev. W.K. Brooks and the United Negro Recreation Association.

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ress Building - On March 28, 1960, seven K Southern University students staged a sit-in at the all-white lunch counter and refused to leave when told. Their actions spoke loudly, inspiring further peaceful protests around the city.

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outhern Student Sit-ins - In response to S the expulsion of 16 students that staged sitins around town, more than 1,000 students marched from campus to the Capitol.

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t. Zion First Baptist M Church - The meeting spot for the nation’s first civil rights bus boycott, planned and led by Rev. T.J. Jemison.

Some of the most important catalysts in the civil rights movement took place right here in Baton Rouge. From our nation’s very first bus boycott, to the historic Bogalusa Civil Rights March to the State Capitol, visit the sites and walk the steps that others took before us that played such inspiring roles in defining equality here and across the U.S.

1953 Bus Boycott Baton Rouge African American Museum Step back in time and tour a full exhibit inside an authentic bus from 1953, that held the first Civil Rights bus boycotts — right here in Baton Rouge. The cotton-filled garden gives you a glimpse into the past of some of civil rights’ biggest figures.

Hear the stories of the people of color who made an impact here that was felt around the world.

Markers at North Blvd. & St. Phillips and the McKinley High School Alumni Center on Thomas H. Delpit Dr. denote these sites as part of the original bus boycotts. These historic sites served as the blueprint and catalyst for other bus boycotts around the country.

Capitol Park Museum Exhibits at Capitol Park Museum cover everything from slave markets and Jim Crow to resistance and revolt, giving a glimpse into the unimaginable plight of people of color in The South.

Lincoln Theater During the civil rights movement, The Lincoln Theater was one of the only theaters that allowed Black people, becoming a cultural sanctuary for people of color.

Webb’s Barber Shop This barbershop is an icon in Baton Rouge, having anchored the Black-owned business community with more than a century of cuts and a number of famous faces sharing the chair.

The Baton Rouge meeting site of the famous Freedom Riders, a group that rode interstate buses into the segregated Southern United States to challenge the lack of enforcement on the ruling to desegregate buses.

LSU Rural Life Museum

City-Brooks Community Park Now a modern art gallery, this was the site of the 1963 “swim-in” protest of the city's all-white pool. This demonstration by 30-50 African Americans eventually led to the Supreme Court overturning the Louisiana law that required segregation in public parks.

Images Courtesy of the East Baton Rouge Parish Library

Louisiana's Old State Capitol

One of the “World’s Top 10 Outdoor Museums,” this interactive museum gives a true-to-life view that focuses on the ways of life as part of the working classes during the 18th and 19th centuries.

Magnolia Mound Known as the oldest house in Baton Rouge, today’s Magnolia Mound is a nationally accredited museum and education center originally built in 1791 that tells the story of its French Creole history as a sugar plantation with its own community of enslaved residents.

SEE THE WHOLE CITY

Images Courtesy of the East Baton Rouge Parish Library

FOOD

NOURISHING THE SOUL

SINGING THE BLUES

MUSIC

Blending the best of creole & soul, Baton Rouge’s food scene is the result of a cultural melting pot unlike anywhere else in the world with influences from seven different nations that once settled in what is now Baton Rouge. The soulful scents around the city originate from the recipes and ingredients created by African slaves in the South, now recognized as true American classics. From local staples serving up timeless favorites, to new concepts with chefs trained around the world, our city is home to Black-owned restaurants that bring it all to the table.

This city is the home of Louisiana Blues, with some of the most storied African American legends getting their start right here in Baton Rouge. They’ve contributed to a music scene unlike any other, and paved the way for Baton Rouge to become known for its contribution to Blues music across the world.

Zeeland Street Market

Poor Boy Lloyd’s

Teddy’s Juke Joint

This local gem originally started as neighborhood potluck dinners and has transformed into a lively local favorite and music joint in the heart of the Garden District.

The place to go Downtown for an authentic Louisiana po-boy, just ask President Obama.

Teddy opened up one of the area’s hottest music spots in his childhood home, shining the light on local talent yearround.

Southern Cofe Just off Southern’s campus, this coffee shop was the first in the country to offer a functional podcast studio for visitors to record, mix and master their own shows.

Chicken Shack As Baton Rouge’s oldest restaurant, the Delpit family has been serving up deliciously crispy fried chicken since 1935.

Buddy Stewart Memorial Rhythm Museum & Rock Shop This old record store is now a museum with one of the largest vinyl collections in Louisiana, featuring past and present artists that got their start right here in Baton Rouge.

Henry Turner Jr. Listening Room

Neal’s Juke Joint Showcase Room

A true Louisiana juke joint, this holein-the-wall is where new, original musicians have an opportunity to take to the stage.

The Grammy-award winning Neal family opened this spot in the heart of a historically-Black and up-and-coming part of the city.

Millennial Park A collection of modern shipping container eateries with a wide variety of vendors serving up an even wider array of flavors.

Chef Celeste Bistro Taste truly fresh, flavorful Louisiana cuisine, or immerse yourself completely with a cooking class all courtesy of culinary master Chef Celeste Gill.

Image Courtesy of @SouthernCofé on Instagram

HUNGRY FOR MORE?

KEEP IT ROCKIN'

ART

RETELLING OUR PAST

CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY

In Baton Rouge, celebration is always in season. From festivals & food, to historical

Creativity is a big part of Baton Rouge’s history and culture. Experience some of the most

observances, join our city in celebrating the influence and importance of African American

influential art around the city, both inspired and created by Black artists and icons.

Downtown Murals by The Walls Project The Walls Project partners with local artists, painting vibrant and inspirational murals in underserved and underinvested communities across the city in an effort to be a catalyst for change and a point of pride.

EVENTS & FESTIVALS

culture all year-round.

Frank Hayden Walking Tour

Spring

Summer

egendary Louisiana sculptor Frank L Hayden was inspired to create by his friends and family, his Christian values and his commitment to civil rights. Join the Louisiana Art & Science Museum on an engaging tour of his work all across downtown Baton Rouge.

Baton Rouge Blues Fest - Started in 1981, the Baton Rouge Blues Festival has become one of the nation’s fastest growing festivals of its kind, with nearly 50,000 in attendance every year.

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The Soul Food Festival - Two jam-packed days filled with good music, good company, and some of the best soul food in the South.

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Juneteenth - A weekend of celebration ranging from lively parades to impactful discussions, as we come together to commemorate the official end of slavery in America.

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IWE Festival - An urban culture festival, boasting a vibrant array of creativity, art and culture through literacy.

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Essence Fest - Just down the road in New Orleans, Essence Fest is the largest African American music and culture festival in the country that welcomes travelers from across the world to celebrate black excellence and culture.

Fall // Southern Universtiy Museum of Art Located in Southern’s campus, this museum and its collection of four galleries are dedicated to African American pioneer artists who fought and won the battle for artistic freedom.

Winter

Downtown MLK Monument

SEE THE FULL PICTURE

This newly-restored monument is one of the only abstract art pieces in the country that honors Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his impact on civil rights, which we still feel today.

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lack History Month - From the B nation's very first bus boycott, to the Southern students marching to the State Capitol, celebrate Black History Month with iconic moments in civil rights history across Baton Rouge.

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rewe of Oshun Parade & K Festival - This newly-inaugurated celebration brings Mardi Gras to North Baton Rouge with the first parade organized by an African American organization since Zulu started in the ‘30s.

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lack Restaurant Week - Celebrate the Black B influence on the food we love and support Black-owned small businesses around the city. outhern Football Season - Whether it’s S The Human Jukebox, the tailgate food or the football itself, rep your blue & gold regardless of what brings you to town and cheer on the Jaguars all football season long.

PARTY ON!

CONTINUE TO EXPLORE