Louisiana Art & Science Museum in Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Museum with a major rail exhibitOpen Wednesday to Sunday; closed Monday and Tuesday
The Louisiana Art & Science Museum makes its home in the 1925 Yazoo & Mississippi Valley Railroad depot on the Mississippi River in downtown Baton Rouge, where art, science and a planetarium share one historic station.
- Housed in a 1925 railroad depot
- On the Mississippi River downtown
- Irene W. Pennington Planetarium
- Hands-on galleries for children
- Accredited by American Alliance of Museums
Louisiana Art & Science Museum at a glance
- Hours
- Wednesday to Friday 10 am to 3 pm, Saturday 10 am to 5 pm, Sunday 1 pm to 5 pm; closed Monday and Tuesday
- Admission
- Adults $16, children 3 to 12 $13, seniors 65+ $13, members free, plus tax
- Seasonal events
- BASF's Kids' Lab (2nd and 4th weekends), Free First Sunday for military families
- Plan for
- About 2 to 3 hours with a planetarium show
- Best for
- Families with young children and school groups
- Best ages
- Ages 3 to 12
- Parking
- Metered parking on River Road; street parking on North Boulevard and Convention Street
- Accessibility
- Sensory-friendly hours with quiet areas and captioned planetarium shows
Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.
Contact and directions
- Address100 South River Road, Baton Rouge, LA 70802(opens in a new tab)
- Phone(225) 344-5272
- Emaillasm@lasm.org
- Websitelasm.org(opens in a new tab)
Follow Louisiana Art & Science Museum
Look inside the book
Taking the kids to Louisiana Art & Science Museum? Bring Rally along.
In Rally Takes the Train, a corgi's little legs can't manage the big train stairs, so Dad gives him a boost. It takes about five minutes to read, a good fit for the drive to Baton Rouge.
Rally Takes the Train
Eight pages from the book
Turn the page
That's 8 of 25 pages
See who’s waiting at the station
Grandmommy and Papa are at the last stop. Get the full hand-painted book, $13.99 on Amazon.
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Like it so far? See the full book
25 hand-painted pages, paperback, $13.99 with fast shipping from Amazon.
Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.
A river depot that found a second life in art and science
The building began as a train station. It was built for the Yazoo & Mississippi Valley Railroad, a line later absorbed by the Illinois Central, and it opened in 1925 on the bank of the Mississippi River in downtown Baton Rouge, across River Road from the Old State Capitol. For decades it was a crossroads where the railway helped shape how the city grew.
The museum's own story starts in 1960, when the Baton Rouge Art and Science Center adopted its articles of incorporation. In 1963 an act of the state legislature created the Louisiana Art and Science Center, and over time the organization made the old depot its permanent home and grew into the Louisiana Art & Science Museum.
Today it is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, belongs to the Association of Science and Technology Centers, and welcomes about 45,000 visitors a year, more than half of them students on school programs. The East Baton Rouge City Parish Government and the museum's members provide operating support, with grants from state and federal arts agencies.
The museum has not forgotten the building's railroad roots. For the depot's 100th anniversary it mounted Crossroads & Connections: A Century of the Railway in Baton Rouge, which used archival photos, maps, artifacts and personal stories to show the railway's role in the city. Companion shows included Shelf Queens: Model Train Masterpieces, Going Places: Transportation Toys of the Past, and Landscapes Along the Railway: The Art of John Cleaveland.
Galleries, a mummy and a dome full of stars
Inside the depot, art galleries rotate changing fine art exhibitions alongside selections from the permanent collection. As of October 2026 the current shows include Preserving Paradise: The Vision of C.C. Lockwood, Reflections: The Art of George Rodrigue, Fashion & Fauna and Louisiana Couture: The Legacy of San Carlin.
Children have their own interactive art and science galleries, including the STEAM Station. The Ancient Egypt Gallery displays ancient artifacts and a Ptolemaic-era mummy, about 2,300 years old, resting in a re-created rock-cut tomb. The Irene W. Pennington Planetarium runs sky shows, large-format films and visual music shows, with galleries on space science, and admission includes unlimited shows. The Museum Store sells handcrafted goods, books, toys and exhibit-related items.
Don’t miss
- The 1925 depot itselfBuilt for the Yazoo & Mississippi Valley Railroad, the station sits right on the Mississippi River and still frames every visit.
- Irene W. Pennington PlanetariumSky shows, giant-screen films and original LASM productions such as Navigating the Cosmos, all included with admission.
- Ancient Egypt GalleryA Ptolemaic-era mummy rests in a re-created rock-cut tomb among ancient artifacts.
- The STEAM StationHands-on children's space that hosts BASF's Kids' Lab chemistry workshops on the 2nd and 4th weekends of the month.
- Rail history exhibitionsThe museum has marked the depot's past with shows such as Crossroads & Connections and Shelf Queens: Model Train Masterpieces; check what is on view.
Hands-on science in an old train station
The museum is built with kids in mind. Interactive art and science galleries are designed just for children, planetarium shows are included in admission, and BASF's Kids' Lab offers 45-minute chemistry workshops for ages 6 to 12 with an adult on the 2nd and 4th weekends of each month, free with admission. Participants take home a tote with a lab apron and safety glasses.
The museum also schedules sensory-friendly hours with dimmed lights, low background music, quiet areas, fidget toys, noise-reducing headphones and accessible art supplies, and the planetarium offers captioned shows during those times.
Plan your visit: tips for Louisiana Art & Science Museum
- Weekend last entry is 4 pm, when the final planetarium show begins.
- Active-duty military, first responders, veterans and families get free general admission through Free First Sunday and Blue Star Museums.
- The museum is closed on major holidays, including Mardi Gras.
- Tickets can be bought online or at the door.
- Members of reciprocal programs such as ASTC may get benefits.
Members, sponsors and the parish behind the museum
LASM is supported by the East Baton Rouge City Parish Government, its members and a long list of local sponsors, with grants from the Louisiana Division of the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts. Visitors can help by becoming members, booking a birthday party or facility rental, shopping the Museum Store, sponsoring the gala, or asking about work and volunteer openings through the contact page.
Train stops beyond the Baton Rouge depot
The McComb Railroad Museum in Mississippi is about 70 miles away. Toward New Orleans, about 75 miles southeast, you can ride the New Orleans streetcars and see the murals at the Union Passenger Terminal. Our page on Louisiana train museums lists the rest.
- Louisiana Railroad Heritage Trust / related preservation collectionsstatewide, LA · about 1 mi
- McComb Railroad MuseumMcComb, MS · about 70 mi
- Louisiana Steam Train AssociationNew Orleans area, LA · about 71 mi
- New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal historic exhibitsNew Orleans, LA · about 75 mi
- New Orleans Streetcar historic operationsNew Orleans, LA · about 75 mi
- Southern Forest Heritage MuseumLong Leaf, LA · about 90 mi
Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive
I love that this museum looks right out on the Mississippi River. In our book, Rally gazes through an arched train window at the ocean and greets a white bird gliding past. A depot by a big river feels like the same kind of place, where travelers once waited and watched the water. My kids would spend half the visit at the window, and the other half under the planetarium stars.
Free for train families
Print the Rally coloring pages before you go
Watercolor coloring pages from the book, free to print. Tuck a few in a folder with crayons for the drive or the wait for the next train.
Get the free coloring pages
A train story for the ride homeRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi's first train trip to see his grand-paw-rents. Hand-painted in real watercolor. $13.99 on Amazon, for ages 0 to 8.
Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)More for train families
- Train museums in Louisiana: every museum by town, with a map
- Train museums in every state: search by town or near you
- Christmas train rides in Louisiana
- Halloween train rides in Louisiana
- Every Amtrak route with kids
Work or volunteer at Louisiana Art & Science Museum?
We want this page to be the best introduction to your museum on the web. Send new hours, event dates, corrections or photos to kelsey@rallytakesthetrain.com and we will update it. You are welcome to share this page with your members.
Sources
- Louisiana Art & Science Museum official website(opens in a new tab)
- Louisiana Art & Science Museum on Facebook(opens in a new tab)
- Louisiana Art & Science Museum on Instagram(opens in a new tab)
- Louisiana Art & Science Museum on YouTube(opens in a new tab)
Everything on this page comes from the museum’s own website and social pages and, for history, Wikipedia, checked October 19, 2026.
Louisiana Art & Science Museum: 20 questions for your visit
What are the Louisiana Art & Science Museum hours?
As of October 2026, the Louisiana Art & Science Museum is open Wednesday through Friday from 10 am to 3 pm, Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm, and Sunday from 1 pm to 5 pm. It is closed Monday and Tuesday, though school groups can book Tuesdays. On weekends, last entry is 4 pm.
How much are Louisiana Art & Science Museum tickets?
As of October 2026, admission is $16 for adults, $13 for children ages 3 to 12, and $13 for seniors 65 and up, plus applicable taxes. Members get in free. Tickets cover the museum, all permanent and changing exhibits, and unlimited Irene W. Pennington Planetarium shows, and can be bought online or at the door.
Is the Louisiana Art & Science Museum in an old train station?
Yes. The museum occupies a historic railroad depot built for the Yazoo & Mississippi Valley Railroad, which later became part of the Illinois Central. The station dates to 1925 and sits on the banks of the Mississippi River in downtown Baton Rouge, across River Road from the Old State Capitol.
Does the Louisiana Art & Science Museum have train exhibits?
The museum has celebrated its depot's rail history with exhibitions such as Crossroads & Connections: A Century of the Railway in Baton Rouge, Shelf Queens: Model Train Masterpieces and Going Places: Transportation Toys of the Past. Those shows have closed, so check the changing exhibitions page to see what is on view before your visit.
What was the Crossroads & Connections exhibit at LASM?
Crossroads & Connections: A Century of the Railway in Baton Rouge marked the 100th anniversary of the Yazoo & Mississippi Valley depot that houses the museum. Using archival photos, maps, artifacts and personal stories, it explored how the railway shaped the city's growth. It ran from October 2025 to September 2026.
Where is the Louisiana Art & Science Museum and where do I park?
The museum is at 100 South River Road in downtown Baton Rouge, next to the Mississippi River and across from the Old State Capitol. Metered parking may be available in front on River Road, with more street parking on North Boulevard, Convention Street and nearby lots. The Downtown Development District has a full parking guide.
What is the Irene W. Pennington Planetarium?
The Irene W. Pennington Planetarium is the museum's dome theater, showing sky shows, large-format films such as Dream Big: Engineering Our World, visual music shows and original LASM productions like Navigating the Cosmos. Galleries on space science surround it. Unlimited planetarium shows are included with general admission.
Is there a mummy at the Louisiana Art & Science Museum?
Yes. The Ancient Egypt Gallery displays ancient artifacts and a Ptolemaic-era mummy, about 2,300 years old, resting in a re-created rock-cut tomb. It is one of the museum's best known permanent exhibits and is included with general admission.
Is the Louisiana Art & Science Museum good for toddlers and young kids?
Yes. The museum has interactive art and science galleries designed just for children, and planetarium shows are included in admission. Children's tickets start at age 3. Older kids ages 6 to 12 can join BASF's Kids' Lab chemistry workshops on the 2nd and 4th weekends of each month, included with admission.
What is BASF's Kids' Lab at LASM?
BASF's Kids' Lab is a 45-minute hands-on chemistry workshop for young scientists ages 6 to 12 and their adults, held in the STEAM Lab inside the STEAM Station on the 2nd and 4th weekends of the month. It is included with admission and free for members. Each child gets a tote with a lab apron and safety glasses.
Does the Louisiana Art & Science Museum have sensory-friendly hours?
Yes. During sensory-friendly hours, lights are dimmed, background music is kept low and quiet areas are set aside. Guests can use fidget toys, noise-reducing headphones and accessible art supplies, and the planetarium offers captioned shows. Check the museum's calendar or call (225) 344-5272 for dates.
Does LASM offer free admission for military families?
Yes. Active-duty military, first responders, veterans and their families receive free general admission through Free First Sunday and the Blue Star Museums program. This covers general admission only, not programs, special events, field trip chaperone costs or extra activities.
Can you have a birthday party at the Louisiana Art & Science Museum?
Yes. The museum takes birthday party inquiries through its contact page. It does not list party prices on its visit page, so use the birthday party inquiry link at lasm.org or call (225) 344-5272 to ask about dates, packages and what is included.
Does the Louisiana Art & Science Museum take school field trips?
Yes. School programs are a big part of LASM, and more than half of its roughly 45,000 annual visitors are school program participants. School group reservations are available, including on Tuesdays from 9 am to 3 pm when the museum is otherwise closed. Book through the For Educators section of lasm.org.
What holidays is the Louisiana Art & Science Museum closed?
The museum closes on New Year's Day, Mardi Gras, Easter, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. It is also closed every Monday and Tuesday to the public. Check the calendar on lasm.org before visiting near a holiday.
How long should I spend at the Louisiana Art & Science Museum?
Plan on about two to three hours to see the galleries, the Ancient Egypt Gallery and the children's spaces, plus at least one planetarium show. On weekends, the last entry is at 4 pm, when the day's final planetarium show starts, so arrive earlier if you want to see everything.
When was the Louisiana Art & Science Museum founded?
The museum traces its start to 1960, when the Baton Rouge Art and Science Center adopted its articles of incorporation. In 1963, Act 26 of the Louisiana legislature created the Louisiana Art and Science Center. It later became the Louisiana Art & Science Museum and is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums.
Does the Louisiana Art & Science Museum have a gift shop?
Yes. The Museum Store sells unique handcrafted merchandise, books, toys and a large selection of items connected to the museum's exhibits. It is a good stop for a planetarium souvenir or a science toy. Purchases help support the museum.
How can I become a member or volunteer at LASM?
Membership can be started through the Become a Member link on lasm.org, and members get free admission and free Kids' Lab sessions. The contact page also has a Work or Volunteer section. Call (225) 344-5272 or email lasm@lasm.org with questions.
What train museums are near the Louisiana Art & Science Museum?
The McComb Railroad Museum in Mississippi is about 70 miles away. Toward New Orleans, about 75 miles southeast, families can ride the historic streetcars and visit the Union Passenger Terminal. The Southern Forest Heritage Museum in Long Leaf, with its roundhouse and railbus, is about 90 miles northwest.
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