Burden Museum and Gardens

“One of the top 10 outdoor museums in the world.”

Tucked away in the middle of Baton Rouge on 440 acres, the Burden Museum and Gardens offers a museum, hiking trails, and gardens. It consists of three main areas: the LSU Rural Life Museum, Windrush Gardens, and the LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens. Here’s a look at each of them.

LSU Rural Life Museum

Take a self-guided tour of 32 historic buildings at this indoor/outdoor museum, including an overseer’s house, blacksmith’s shop, pioneer’s cabin, jail, schoolhouse, and church. In the Exhibit Barn, discover artifacts from 18th and 19th-century rural life in Louisiana.

LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens

Explore this collection of gardens, woodlands, and wetlands. Some highlights include:

• Trees and Trails – Hike this three mile trail with markers along the way identifying the various trees and plants.
• Black Swamp Trail – Elevated boardwalk that takes you through the Black Swamp.
• Story Walk – Geared towards children, this trail features signs with pages from children’s books. Families can read the stories together as they walk the trail.
• Birding loops – 320 species of birds have been recorded in and around Burden.
• Children’s Garden – Kids will have fun on the adorable playground equipment, while also learning about gardening.
• Depending on the season, you might find sunflowers, tulips, roses, or even satsumas here.

Windrush Gardens

Stroll through 25 acres of landscaped gardens surrounding a circa 1850 home canopied by live oak trees and crepe myrtles. Steele Burden, a self-taught landscape designer, created these beautiful gardens during the 1920’s and 30’s. His family had purchased the property in 1861. It was once part of Windrush Plantation.

Summary: Burden Museum and Gardens

With hiking trails, gardens, an indoor/outdoor museum and many seasonal events like the corn maze and rural life Christmas, there are lots of family friendly things to do here.

4560 Essen Lane, just off Interstate-10 in Baton Rouge, LA