LSU Museum of Art
4.6(162)google
4.7(13)yelp
ArtIndoor
Overview
Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, commonly referred to as Louisiana State University (LSU), is an American public land-grant research university in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States. The university was founded in 1860 near Pineville, Louisiana, under the name Louisiana State Seminary of Learning & Military Academy. The current LSU main campus was dedicated in 1926 and consists of more than 250 buildings constructed in the style of Italian Renaissance architect Andrea Palladio, occupying a 650-acre (260 ha) plateau on the banks of the Mississippi River.
Practical Info
Suggested Duration1.5-2.5 hours
Best TimeGreat year-round, ideally Friday or Sunday afternoon (2:00 PM - 5:00 PM). Situated on the 5th floor of the Shaw Center for the Arts downtown, late afternoon sun beams beautifully through grand glass facades onto modern sculptures. Stepping onto the rooftop terrace an hour before sunset yields stunning aerial photos of the Mississippi River bridge.
Getting ThereHoused inside the Shaw Center for the Arts at 100 Lafayette Street downtown. Due to its busy central location, public transit is recommended: take the CATS Downtown Shuttle to the Lafayette St @ Convention St stop, and the entrance is 30 meters away. Drivers must use the nearby paid parking garages on 3rd Street or timed street spaces.
Travel Tips
- Located on the 5th floor of the Shaw Center; the basement garage is privately operated and costly, use the adjacent municipal public parking decks.
- Bags exceeding 12x12 inches and umbrellas are strictly banned inside galleries and must be surrendered to the complimentary coat check desk.
Photo Tips
Photo Spots
- The rooftop sculpture terrace offers prime bridge sunset views, but intense river gusts require heavily weighted tripods to prevent camera gear damage.
Reviews
Positive
- Located atop the Shaw Center downtown, it pairs excellent exhibits with unparalleled sunset views of the Mississippi River and bridge from its glass gallery.
- The collection of Chinese jade carvings and traditional American Southern art is highly unique; curating is top-tier and the layout offers a quiet visual feast.
- Admission is highly affordable, and it's free to the public every Sunday; the front desk reception and security staff are friendly and guide you to the terrace.
- The setting is elegant and serene, keeping crowd density at a comfortable level; it's a hidden artistic gem downtown, perfect for a slow afternoon stroll.
Heads up
- The museum gallery is much smaller than expected, spanning only one main floor; without scrutinizing every painting, you can finish it in 40 to 60 minutes.
- Being inside the Shaw Center for the Arts complex, parking relies on metered street spots or pricey downtown garages, lacking an exclusive free parking lot.
- Temporary exhibits take a long time to rotate, and sometimes you arrive to find sections closed for installation because the website updates are lagging.
- The museum gift shop has a limited selection; many fine Southern artist custom items are missing, leaving only a few generic postcards and art books.