The Haunted Building In Louisiana Both History Buffs And Ghost Hunters Will Love
By Jackie Ann|Published September 12, 2022
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Jackie Ann
Author
Louisiana native and LSU Alum (Geaux Tigers!), Jackie has lived in Louisiana for over three decades and currently lives in New Orleans. She's been writing for OnlyInYourState since 2016 and can often be found with a coffee at her side, dreaming of her next adventure.
Few buildings have the wow factor that Louisiana’s Old State Capitol does. After all, it’s not every day that you see a castle in the middle of a major city (at least, not in America). It’s hard to miss this iconic building when you’re driving through downtown Baton Rouge, it’s one of the most recognizable buildings in Louisiana. Louisiana’s Old State Capitol has a very interesting history behind it, leading many to believe it’s haunted. Let’s take a closer look at what may be haunting this National Historic Landmark.
The construction of Louisiana’s Old State Capitol was completed in 1852.
When the state Legislature in New Orleans decided to move their seat of government to Baton Rouge in 1846, the city donated a parcel of land, and construction began the following year. Architect James H. Dakin was hired to design the building, and rather than deciding to mirror other state capitols, Dakin decided to do something a little different, opting for a Neo-Gothic Medieval-style castle instead.
Generally, people were pleased with the look, but not everyone was a fan of this design. After all, it’s situated on a high bluff that overlooks the Mighty Mississippi.
Under Union control, the building, or "old gray castle," as it was referred to then, was used first a prison, then as a garrison for African-American soldiers. The building caught fire twice and basically destroyed everything inside, the exterior walls were the only thing that remained by the time the war ended.
The beautiful iron spiral staircase and the stunning stained glass dome are both the work of William A. Freret, the architect who was hired to rebuild Louisiana’s Old State Capitol.
When the new state capitol was completed in 1932, it left the door open for many organizations to come and go through the years.
The Works Progress Administration of Louisiana first moved into the building, then it was dedicated to Louisiana’s veterans for a while. In 1991, it was closed town for another restoration.
Today, Louisiana’s Old State Capitol serves as a political museum, but you might just have a paranormal experience while you’re here.
There have been reports of this iconic castle being haunted for decades, and when you visit the building you’ll be able to watch "The Ghost of the Castle," a short, 20-minute video about Sarah Morgan, a young woman from the Civil War era who absolutely loved the castle and wrote about it in her book, Sarah Morgan: The Civil War Diary of a Southern Woman.
She's just one of the many spirits believed to haunt these historic halls.
From doors slamming in rooms where no one is around to feeling like you've been shoved, visitors and staff have experienced countless paranormal activities here, leading many to believe these old walls are haunted by spirits from Civil War soldiers, political figures, and the ghost of a little girl who just loved the building so much, she never left.
For more information, visit the Old State Capitol website. Admission to the museum is free, but be sure to check the website for hours of operation before you head over. For more haunted adventures, take this road trip in Louisiana to some of the most haunted places in the state.
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