Baton Rouge, La.

Friday - October 2

 

This is Todd and Andrea.  Todd is celebrating his 40th birthday with family and friends here in Baton Rouge.

  

                   This is Bryce, Todd and Andrea's younger son.

                           And this is Grant, their older son.

Todd and Andrea are expecting their third child next Spring.

Tim, Tom, and I took an early morning walk around the neighborhood surrounding our hotel.  Even though there is 14 years in age between Tom and Tim, they are extremely close and they talk regularly on the phone.  What a blessing they are to each other! 

We decided to go tour the Old State Capital today.  On our way there we passed this old style diner.

This was in downtown Baton rouge near the riverfront.

The Old State Capital is a Gothic Revival Structure and was designed by James Harrison Dakin.  The Louisiana Secession Ordinance was adopted here in January 1861.  The interior was burned in December 1862 while the building was occupied by Federal troops. 

Reconstructed by William Freret in 1882, it served as the State Capital until 1932.  The cast iron fence dates from 1854! 

 

 

The architecture and the surrounding grounds are quite impressive!

                           The interior is simply gorgeous.

                     WOW!  Shiny brass water fountains in the hallway.

State Senators served in this room (the Senate Chamber) from 1850 until 1932.  The Governor and the Secretary of State's offices were formerly behind the doors to the right and left.

After the building was electrified in 1894, an electrical fire began in the tower above this room in 1906.  Workers then covered the top of the burned window with a false ceiling.  It was exposed during the last restoration of the building (1991-94), and a portion of the charred frame was left unrestored.

                      This large hall was once a courtroom.

There are some massive old live oak trees growing around the Old State Capital.

Just across the road is the Mississippi River.  There is a nice long walkway constructed atop the levee.

After our tour of the Old State Capital we walked a few blocks to a seafood café where we were met by more family members for a wonderful lunch.

In the afternoon we went to Kathy's sister Debbie's house for a short visit.  We always enjoy seeing Debbie and today sitting with her on her beautiful patio.  Kathy is enjoying her glass of ice tea while Tim looks like he is deep in thought.

Tom and Debbie were both attendants in Tim and Kathy's wedding 40 years ago.

Friday evening we attended a catered dinner in honor of Todd's 40th birthday.

Tomorrow is the LSU game and Tailgating Party.

More to come..........................