Port Hudson State Commemorative Area, Baton Rouge

Port Hudson has appear across a broad spectrum. It has trails for walking or hiking, beautiful picnic areas, a fine museum in which the rangers are extremely knowledgeable, and programs monthly and annually that are well worhth your while to attend. They have the premier Civil War reenactment in Louisiana in March each year in which hundreds upon hundreds of military reenactors take part, as well as civilian reenators who add to the atmosphere. Port Hudson also has a rather impressive piece of artillery - a cannon that fired a projectile weighing 42 pounds. Awesome stuff! At the reenactment, they stage a mock battle that includes artillery, cavalry and infantry. They had a fife & drum corps and a really cool medical demonstration, and there were ladies demonstrating cooking (as did some men, too), weaving with a large loom, sewing, and each of the military branches (artillery, cavalry and infantry) put on demonstrations of different kinds. The rangers were all so very helpful, and during the reenactment they have merchants actually selling goods (and food) - and they're called sutlers. They also have a demonstration they do on the first Sunday afternoon of each month at Port Hudson so you can learn about how the military men there did their respective jobs. All in all, whether just out there for a day with the family or there to see the spectacle of the reenactment, it's a great place to be!