Huey Long podcast tour Baton Rouge: 8 stops downtown

Walk the sites where Louisiana's Kingfish built his power and met his end

This self-guided podcast tour of downtown Baton Rouge follows the 1930s rise and violent fall of Huey P. Long through 8 stops over 2.2 hours. You navigate between landmarks using the app, listening to immersive audio from experts and locals as you stand at the Gothic castle where Long survived an armed brawl, the Hotel Heidelberg where he ran backroom deals, and the Art Deco capitol where he was assassinated. The tour suits anyone interested in American populism, political power and Louisiana history.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Huey P. Long's Baton Rouge legacy

• Visit Gothic castle site
• See historic 1894 Post Office
• View White House-style building
• Tour Hotel Heidelberg Suite 406
• Explore military quarters
• Discover 'Share Our Wealth' exhibits
• Visit Art Deco monument and gardens

The experience

You arrive in downtown Baton Rouge with a free afternoon and a phone. Download the app, pick your start time, and the tour guides you between eight stops across 3.3 kilometers of the city center. The audio (told in podcast style by historians and locals) plays as you walk, anchoring each site to a moment in Long's story: the 1929 brawl inside the Gothic castle overlooking the Mississippi, the 1894 Post Office where the conservative establishment fought his taxation schemes, the Hotel Heidelberg where he kept Suite 406 and used an underground tunnel to slip past rivals. You're not following a guide. You're following a story that unfolds at your own pace.

The tour builds toward the 34-story Art Deco capitol Long commissioned in 1930 to resemble the White House: a building that announced his presidential ambitions to the state. The sunken formal gardens surrounding it hold his grave and a monumental bronze statue. The final stops trace how his "Share Our Wealth" movement mobilized poor rural Louisianians, and the corridor where he was shot on September 8, 1935. The app offers navigation between stops, answers questions about the story and the surroundings, and keeps you oriented without requiring a printed map or prior knowledge of the city.

The whole route takes 2.2 hours at a walking pace, though you can pause, linger at any stop, or return another day to finish. Service animals are welcome, and public transit runs nearby if you need it. The audio is available in English and German, and the tour is designed for ages 13 and up.

What’s included

• Verified facts woven into an engaging story.
• interactive in-app guide for questions about the story and surroundings.
• precise navigation between the stops.
• immersive podcast-style audio featuring experts and locals.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Under 13: can't be booked

Audio guideEnglish and German

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Red Thread

Is this one for you?At 2.2 hours, the tour leaves room for a meal or another stop in downtown Baton Rouge the same afternoon, making it a natural fit for travelers with a free half-day rather than a full day to spend.

Top questions

What was the "Bloody Monday" brawl at the Gothic castle?

In 1929, Huey Long survived an armed confrontation inside the Gothic castle overlooking the Mississippi: a dramatic moment that marked a turning point in his political career and is the opening stop of the tour.

Where did Huey Long actually run his political machine from?

The Hotel Heidelberg at 201 Lafayette Street housed Suite 406, where Long cut backroom deals and maintained what functioned as his shadow capitol. He even used an underground tunnel to move through the building unseen by opponents.

How does the app guide work if there's no human guide?

The app provides precise turn-by-turn navigation between the eight stops, plays immersive podcast-style audio from experts and locals at each site, and answers questions about the story and surroundings as you walk.

Can I do this tour if I'm not in great physical shape?

The tour is suitable for all fitness levels. It covers 3.3 kilometers at your own pace over 2.2 hours, and you can pause, rest or return another day to complete it.

What happened at the Art Deco capitol building?

Huey Long commissioned the 34-story Art Deco capitol in 1930 as a statement of his presidential ambitions, deliberately designing it to resemble the White House. He was assassinated there on September 8, 1935, and his grave and a monumental statue now occupy the sunken formal gardens surrounding it.