Baton Rouge

In 1699, no one knew that an unassuming location on a high bluff along the Mississippi River would one day become the capital of Louisiana.

French explorer Pierre Le Moyne, Sieur d'Iberville, found the fabled Red Stick, a post that marked the line between two Native American nations and gave Baton Rouge, Louisiana, its name. This book chronicles the subsequent 150 years of the daily activities of Baton Rouge's residents through images of the city's growth and development; life during the Civil War, floods, hurricanes, and economic depressions; and Baton Rougeans working, playing, and celebrating. Images of America: Baton Rouge showcases images from the extensive resources of the Louisiana State University Libraries and the State Library of Louisiana. The book features the work of Baton Rouge's most famous photographers: Andrew Lytle, remembered for his poignant Civil War images of a town struggling to survive; Fonville Winans, known for his pictures of the growing city taken as he piloted his small plane above it; and David King Gleason, who captured the triumphs and tragedies of life in the river city.