8 Best Sights in Side Trips from New Orleans, Louisiana

Housed in a 1925 Illinois Central railroad station near the Old State Capitol, this idiosyncratic but high-quality collection brings together a contemporary art gallery, an Egyptian tomb exhibit featuring a mummy from 300 BC, a children's museum, and a kid-friendly planetarium. The planetarium presents shows regularly, as does the ExxonMobil Space Theater. The museum hosts traveling exhibits, and houses the nation's second-largest collection of sculptures by 20th-century Croatian artist Ivan Meštrović, many of which adorn the entrance hall.

The Capitol Park Museum showcases the history of Louisiana through two permanent exhibits. "Grounds for Greatness: Louisiana and the Nation" situates Louisiana events in U.S. and world history, from the Louisiana Purchase to World War II. "Experiencing Louisiana: Discovering the Soul of America" takes the visitor on a road trip–like exhibit that courses through the different regions of the state. Rotating exhibits in the museum's gallery explore the arts, culture, and history of the region.

This Georgian-style house was built for Governor Huey P. Long in 1930, and eight other governors lived here thereafter until 1962. The story goes that Long instructed the architect to design his home to resemble the White House, representing Long's unrealized ambition to live in the real one. Notable features on the guided tour include Long's bedroom and a secret staircase. This historic house museum also serves as the Preserve Louisiana headquarters and functions as a venue for special events.

When this turreted Gothic Victorian castle was constructed between 1847 and 1852, it was declared by some a masterpiece, by others a monstrosity. No one can deny that the restored building is colorful and dramatic. In the entrance hall a stunning cast-iron spiral staircase with gold leafing winds toward a stained-glass atrium. The building is now an education and research facility with audiovisual exhibits including the "assassination room," which covers the legendary Huey Long's final moments and is a major draw. The Ghost of the Castle Exhibit is a 12-minute 4D presentation that tells the history of the building, as narrated by an actress playing Sarah Morgan, whose father sold the land on which the building was built.

Run by Louisiana State University, this outdoor teaching and research facility aims to represent the rural life of early Louisianans. Three major areas—the Barn, the Working Plantation, and Folk Architecture—contain more than 32 rustic 19th-century structures spread over 25 acres. A visitor center adjoins the Barn, which holds a collection that includes old farm tools, quilts, 19th-century horse-drawn carriages, items once belonging to slaves, and much more. The plantation section's buildings include a gristmill, a smithy, and several outbuildings. The gardens were created by the late landscape designer Steele Burden.

This arts facility houses the Louisiana State University (LSU) Museum of Art, the LSU Museum Store, the Manship Theatre, Hartley/Vey Studio and Workshop Theatres, LSU School of Art Glassell Gallery, two sculpture gardens, and a rooftop terrace with great views of the Mississippi River. On-site restaurants include Tsunami Sushi, Capital City Grill, PJ's Coffee, and Stroubes Chophouse.

This building has housed the offices of the governor and the Legislature since 1932. It is a testament to the personal influence of legendary Governor Huey P. Long that funding for such a massive building was approved during the Great Depression, and that the building itself was completed in a mere 14 months. You can tour the first floor, richly decorated with murals and mosaics, and peer into the halls of the Louisiana Legislature. Long's colorful personality—and autocratic ways—eventually caught up with him: he was assassinated in 1935, and the spot where he was shot (near the rear elevators) is marked with a plaque. At 34 stories, this is America's tallest state capitol; an observation deck on the 27th floor affords an expansive view of the Mississippi River, the city, and the industrial outskirts.

This World War II ship has been restored to its V-J Day configuration. A self-guided tour covers more than 50 inner spaces of the ship and the separate Nautical Center museum. Among the museum's exhibits are articles from the United States' 175 Fletcher-class destroyers, a collection of ship models, and a restored P-40 fighter plane hanging from the ceiling. The Louisiana Memorial Plaza lists more than 7,000 Louisiana citizens killed during combat, including the 127 citizens killed in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. An A-7E Corsair plane pays tribute to the veterans of the Vietnam War.