Baton Rouge

Baton Rouge, in the state of Louisiana, USA, is one of the true cultural melting pots of the US. The city was named after a red pole found by French explorers of the region. Standing 30 feet high and decorated with fish bones, the pole (‘le baton rouge’) marked the boundary between two Native American nations and was located on a high bluff along the Mississippi River, an ideal site for a new settlement. Since Baton Rouge was settled, it has been heavily influenced by the wave of French, British and Spanish colonists and immigrants who came to the region, as well as the African slaves and indentured servants brought to the area. Modern-day Baton Rouge retains that mixed lineage, visible in its downtown area, with multicultural restaurants, art galleries, and an emerging performing arts scene. For outdoor enthusiasts, the region is home to great fishing, birdwatching, and hiking opportunities, as well as water sports activities along the river.