Pentagon Barracks, Baton Rouge

The Pentagon Barracks, also known as the Old United States Barracks, is a striking historical complex on the grounds of the Louisiana State Capitol. Built between 1819 and 1825 under the direction of U.S. Army engineer Capt. James Gadsden, its name reflects the four brick barracks buildings arranged in a pentagonal layout. These buildings could accommodate around 1,000 soldiers and were part of a larger ordnance depot crucial to military operations across the southwestern United States.

Long before the current barracks stood, the site held considerable strategic importance. It was fortified in 1779 by the British as Fort New Richmond, seized by the Spanish during the American Revolution, and later became part of the Republic of West Florida in 1810. During the Civil War, both Confederate and Union forces occupied the barracks, and notable figures such as Robert E. Lee, Jefferson Davis, Ulysses S. Grant, Abraham Lincoln, George Custer, and Marquis de Lafayette passed through or stayed at the post.

Following the war, the barracks remained in U.S. military hands until 1879, after which Louisiana State University repurposed the site as student housing and academic facilities until 1926. In the mid-20th century, the state converted the complex into offices and apartments. Today, the buildings are on the National Register of Historic Places and house the lieutenant governor’s offices and residences for state legislators.

The Pentagon Barracks offer more than just their stately Greek Revival columns and historic grounds. Though the interior is not generally open for public tours, the tranquil central courtyard-once a military parade ground-can be viewed from surrounding sidewalks. Nearby attractions include the soaring Louisiana State Capitol tower and the enchanting Old State Capitol museum. A stroll through Capitol Park with its lush magnolias, shaded galleries, and historic markers provides a serene, educational experience, bringing to life the centuries of military, educational, and political narrative embedded in these weathered bricks.