The Pentagon Barracks Museum is on the Louisiana State Capitol grounds in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, within a historic complex built to house U.S. troops. Its displays relate to the facility’s history, but details about public visiting arrangements are limited, so it helps to distinguish the museum’s exhibits from access to the barracks buildings.
- Location: Louisiana State Capitol grounds, Baton Rouge
- History: The barracks were built from 1819 to 1829 and served as a garrison until 1877
- Museum displays: Interpret the facility’s history
- Access: Check current public tour and museum visit details before going
A brief history of the Pentagon Barracks
The Pentagon Barracks began as a U.S. military garrison on the grounds of Louisiana’s State Capitol.
Built between 1819 and 1829, the complex housed U.S. troops until 1877. Confederate forces held the barracks from 1861 to 1862. Among the notable soldiers who lived there were Wade Hampton, Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson.
The buildings later served other residents and purposes: cadets and, until 1950, co-eds lived in the barracks. Ownership transferred to the State in 1951. The complex was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.
Today, the barracks include private apartments for state legislators and offices, including the Office of the Lieutenant Governor. The site is also known as the Old United States Barracks.
What can you see at the Pentagon Barracks Museum?
The Pentagon Barracks Museum has displays about the history of the facility.
The museum’s displays relate to the barracks’ military and later history, but no detailed exhibit list is available. The historic barracks sit alongside the Louisiana State Capitol on its grounds.
For a broader look at the city’s collections and museums, read the Baton Rouge museums guide.
Current access and visiting arrangements
The barracks are not open for public tours. The museum has displays about the facility, but check the official site before you go for current access information. Check Capitol grounds parking information before setting out.
Opening hours
- Monday to Friday: 8 AM–5 PM
- Saturday and Sunday: closed
Last checked November 2026. Hours can change on holidays and for special events.
How do you get to the Pentagon Barracks Museum?
The Pentagon Barracks Museum is about an 8-minute drive from American Inn. For a visit to the museum, choose a room for a Baton Rouge museum outing.
The site is on the Louisiana State Capitol grounds. Because public access and parking arrangements specific to the barracks are not confirmed, check the official information before setting out rather than assuming that the complex’s buildings or museum displays will be open to enter.
Nearby historic and museum stops
The Old State Capitol is a museum at 100 North Boulevard, with accessible parking spaces behind it.
The Old State Capitol is at 100 North Boulevard in Baton Rouge. Its visitor information includes parking details, with accessible parking spaces behind the museum, as well as its opening hours. Those hours vary by day, and the site is closed on Monday; check the Louisiana Old State Capitol’s official information before your visit.
Read the Old State Capitol visitor guide for more on its hours, tours and visits.
FAQs
Where is the Pentagon Barracks Museum?
It is on the Louisiana State Capitol grounds in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The complex is also known as the Old United States Barracks.
Can the public tour the Pentagon Barracks?
The barracks are not open for public tours. Check current museum access before visiting.
What is in the Pentagon Barracks Museum?
The museum contains displays relating to the history of the facility. The available description does not provide a detailed exhibit list.