Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/348155
State Museum-Baton Rouge, the Louisiana Art and Science Museum; the USS Kidd docked on the banks of the Mississippi River, Old State Capitol and Old Governor's Mansion. A bust honoring P.B.S. Pinchback, the nation's first Black governor during Reconstruction, sits in the front lobby of the State Capitol. The 34-story, 450-ft. high Art Deco structure is the nation's tallest state capitol with an observation deck providing a panoramic view of the river and city. For large meetings, the newly renovated Baton Rouge River Center, on the banks of the "Mighty Mississippi" offers 200,000 sq. ft. of space and an Arena and Theater for the Performing Arts. The 70,000-sq. ft. Exhibition Hall can be com- bined with the Arena to create more than 100,000 sq. ft. of contiguous exhibit space with 19 breakout rooms. States. It's just one of several historic sites throughout the Crescent City. In addition to the famous French Quarter and Mardi Gras, New Orleans hosts one of the largest cultural events in the country each July – the Essence Festival. The Multicultural Center of the South and the Southern Museum of Art at Southern are Shreveport and Bossier City's top heritage sites. Among the top Bossier City attractions are the 8th Air Force Museum at Barksdale AFB and the Louisiana Boardwalk. The largest meeting facility in the region is the Shreveport-Bossier City Convention Center with over 350,000 sq. ft. of meeting space. Attached is a 300-room Hilton hotel. BATONROUGE Restaurant Week in mid-July is a great time to experience the wonderful Baton Rouge cuisine. Each Wednesday it's the "Food Truck Wround Up," where food trucks hit the streets of Baton Rouge choosing a different location offering a variety of Louisiana favorites. Louisiana's capital city is an oasis of culture, art, food and recreation. The city's rich musical heritage is captured in events such as Baton Rouge Blues Festival and Bayou Country Fest. The city is home to the internationally famous Southern University Human Jukebox. The group is redefining the style of college bands by performing rhythm and blues, classics and impeccable drill steps. As the main campus for the nation's largest historical Black university, the Southern University Museum of Art is a must. For outdoors adventure BREC's Baton Rouge Zoo, Hilltop Arboretum at Louisiana State University and the swamps at Alligator Alley not only offer great activities, but each has space for meetings and receptions. Other places of note for both cultural/heritage and meetings are the Louisiana Aerial of Baton Rouge skyline Photo Credit: Joerg Hackemann B M & T ••• May/June 2014 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 49