Louisiana State Capitol

The Louisiana State Capitol is the tallest state capitol in the country, 450 feet and 34 floors, and it stands as a tower because Huey Long wanted one. Long, then governor and later a U.S. senator, asked the State Board of Liquidation in January 1930 for $5,000 to hire architects. The regular session that year failed to pass the funding, a constitutional amendment passed in a special session, and voters approved it by 14 to 1. Weiss, Dreyfous and Seiferth drew an Art Deco skyscraper, modeled on the Nebraska capitol then under construction, and building began on December 16, 1930.

The dedication came on May 16, 1932, fourteen months later. Long could not attend because of Senate duties in Washington. On September 8, 1935, he was shot in the abdomen in a hallway beside what is now the Speaker's Office, by Dr. Carl Weiss, a young physician and the son-in-law of Judge Benjamin Pavy, a Long opponent. Long's bodyguards returned fire, and the ricochet marks are still visible near an exhibit on the assassination. Long died two days later and is buried on the front grounds, with a statue of him above the grave.

The Capitol is at 900 North Third Street, on 27 acres of landscaped grounds. Admission is free, and guided tours can be arranged through the welcome center at (225) 342-7317. The front steps were closed for renovation and visitors entered through the east breezeway, and the observation deck was listed as closed for renovation, so call before planning around the view. Memorial Hall inside holds statues, portraits, flags and exhibits.