Huey Pierce Long Statue & Tombstone
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
The Huey Pierce Long Statue and Tombstone stands as the central monumental feature of the Louisiana State Capitol gardens. Unveiled on March 21, 1940, roughly five years after his assassination, the monument serves as both a public tribute to the populist leader known as "The Kingfish" and his final resting place.
Unlike traditional burials, Long is interred directly beneath the monument in the sunken formal gardens he helped envision. The site faces the skyscraper-style State Capitol building that he commissioned, creating a permanent visual link between the man and his most visible architectural legacy.
The site draws historians, political enthusiasts, and the general public, offering a tangible connection to one of the most tumultuous and transformative eras in Louisiana history. The sheer scale of the monument, combined with its intricate symbolic reliefs, reflects the outsized impact Long had on the state's infrastructure and education systems.
Key Facts
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Location 400 State Capitol Dr, Baton Rouge, LA
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Category Memorial / Historic Gravesite
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Significance Burial Site of Huey P. Long
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Artist Charles Keck
Notable Features & Architecture
The Bronze Statue
Sculpted by Charles Keck, the 12-foot bronze figure stands atop an 18-foot carved marble pillar, creating a total height of approximately 30–35 feet. The statue is positioned to look directly at the Capitol building, symbolizing Long's continued watch over the state's governance.
Narrative Reliefs
The white marble base features intricate relief carvings depicting Long's major populist initiatives: the distribution of free school books to children, the construction of the modern State Capitol, and the building of the Huey P. Long Bridge.
The Riderless Horse
A poignant relief on the front of the pedestal displays a riderless rearing horse carrying a "Share the Wealth" banner. This imagery traditionally symbolizes a leader who has fallen in battle, reflecting the violent nature of his death.
The Tomb & Inscription
Huey P. Long is buried beneath the granite foundation of the monument. The rear of the base is inscribed with his own words from a 1935 Senate speech: "I know the hearts of the people because I have not colored my own."
Visitor Information
Access & Admission
The monument is located in a public park area that is accessible 24 hours a day. Admission to the gardens and the monument site is entirely free.
Observation Deck View
For a unique aerial perspective of the statue and the formal garden layout, visitors can access the State Capitol's 27th-floor observation deck.
Location Context
400 State Capitol Dr.
Located directly in front of the Louisiana State Capitol building in the sunken gardens.
Local Context & Nearby Landmarks
The statue is an integral part of the Capitol complex. Visitors typically explore the surrounding historic sites to gain a full understanding of Long's legacy.
The Huey Pierce Long Statue and Tombstone serves as a permanent historical marker in Baton Rouge. It physically anchors the legacy of one of Louisiana's most controversial and influential figures within the grounds of the government seat he built.
History & Background
Huey Pierce Long Jr. was born on August 30, 1893, in Winn Parish, Louisiana, and became one of the most powerful and controversial political figures in American history. Elected Governor of Louisiana in 1928 on a platform of radical wealth redistribution — his "Share Our Wealth" program promised to cap personal fortunes and guarantee every American family a minimum income — he dominated Louisiana politics with an iron grip and genuine popular support from the state's poor and working-class majority.
Long's accomplishments in Louisiana were substantial: he built hundreds of miles of roads, constructed the Huey P. Long Bridge, expanded Louisiana State University dramatically, and distributed free textbooks to schoolchildren. He also eliminated the poll tax, making voting more accessible. Critics characterized him as a demagogue who dismantled democratic institutions and concentrated power in himself and his allies — both characterizations contain truth. He was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1932 while retaining effective control of the state government.
Long was assassinated on September 10, 1935, inside the Louisiana State Capitol he had built — reportedly shot by Dr. Carl Weiss, though the full circumstances remain disputed. He died two days later. He was buried on the grounds of the Capitol, and the bronze statue above his grave depicts him in a characteristic pose — arm raised, the perpetual campaign rallying cry. His flamboyant personality, his political machine, and his unfinished ambitions (he was positioning for a 1936 presidential run) have made him one of the enduring figures of American political mythology.
Nearby Attractions
Louisiana State Capitol
The Art Deco skyscraper that Long built — at 450 feet, still the tallest state capitol building in the United States — dominates the Baton Rouge skyline. Tours of the building include the chamber where Long was shot and the observation deck at the 27th floor, which offers panoramic views of the Mississippi River and the surrounding lowlands.
Old State Capitol
The Gothic Revival castle on the Mississippi River bluff at 100 North Boulevard served as Louisiana's capitol before Long's skyscraper replaced it. Now a museum of Louisiana political history, it houses the most comprehensive collection of materials on Huey Long and his era anywhere in the state, along with exhibits on Louisiana's often dramatic political history.
Rural Life Museum
Located on the LSU campus at 4560 Essen Lane, this 25-acre open-air museum preserves and interprets the material culture of rural Louisiana from the colonial period through the early 20th century. Buildings include a working plantation complex, craftsmen's shops, and folk architecture from across the state — providing essential context for the world that produced Huey Long and his political base.