Plaquemine Lock State Historic Site
Head south of Baton Rouge for a look into Louisiana’s shipping history.
At a Glance
- Plaquemine Lock State Historic Site preserves one of Louisiana’s most important engineering and transportation landmarks along Bayou Plaquemine. Open for visitors to explore the historic lock structure, museum exhibits, industrial artifacts and restored lock house.
History of Plaquemine Lock
Bayou Plaquemine’s history as an inland shipping route goes back to long before Louisiana was a state. Native Americans used the waterway that joins the Mississippi River with the Atchafalaya Basin before Europeans arrived, and when French and Spanish explorers entered the Baton Rouge area, they, too, used the bayou for moving goods and people.
Bayou Plaquemine was a natural choice for constructing a series of shipping locks in 1909, when business was booming on the Mississippi River and boats needed to get into and out of the nation’s interior. Plaquemine Lock was an unrivaled engineering marvel, capable of raising ships 51 feet — a world record at the time.
During and after World War II, traffic became too heavy for Plaquemine Lock, and a new dam at Port Allen was constructed, directly across the Mississippi from Louisiana State University. The old site was shuttered, but its memory lives on at Plaquemine Lock State Historic Site.
Plaquemine Lock State Historic Site
Today, travelers can tour Plaquemine Lock’s facilities, including a historic building that houses the visitor center. See the industrial artifacts that once powered boats up five stories of water between the bayou and river. Then walk across one of the locks, where you can easily imagine what life at this busy shipping outlet must have looked like decades ago.
Things to Do Near Plaquemine Lock State Historic Site
Nearby attractions include the Louisiana Art & Science Museum and the LSU Rural Life Museum & Windrush Gardens, both in Baton Rouge. Stop by The Cajun Village in Sorrento for shopping and beignets.
Frequently Asked Questions about Plaquemine Lock State Historic Site
What is Plaquemine Lock State Historic Site?
Plaquemine Lock State Historic Site is a historic engineering landmark in Plaquemine, Louisiana, that preserves one of the nation’s earliest and most important shipping locks. The site highlights Louisiana’s transportation history and the role Bayou Plaquemine played in connecting the Mississippi River to the state’s interior waterways.
Why is Plaquemine Lock historically important?
When it opened in 1909, Plaquemine Lock had the highest freshwater lift in the world at 51 feet. It was considered a major engineering achievement and helped move commercial traffic between the Mississippi River and Louisiana’s inland waterways for more than 50 years.
What can visitors see at Plaquemine Lock State Historic Site?
Visitors can explore the historic lock structure, tour the museum and visitor center inside the lock house, and view exhibits featuring antique watercraft, industrial artifacts and shipping history displays related to Louisiana waterways.
When is Plaquemine Lock State Historic Site open?
Plaquemine Lock State Historic Site is open Tuesday through Saturday during daytime hours.
Where is Plaquemine Lock State Historic Site located?
Plaquemine Lock State Historic Site is located at 57730 Main Street in Plaquemine, Louisiana, about 10 miles south of Baton Rouge across the Mississippi River.
