The land north of downtown Baton Rouge between the Mississippi River and Interstate 10 encompasses the first high ground north of the mouth of the Mississippi. As the oldest neighborhood in the city, Spanish Town is widely considered to be the heart and soul of Baton Rouge. France, England, and Spain disputed the land for over 100 years, and in 1779 the English fought the Spanish and their American allies to secure it. Over the past 200 years, the area has been the home of an Army garrison, the campus of Louisiana State University, and Louisiana's magnificent state capitol building and surrounding Capitol Park. Today, Spanish Town's residents are notably diverse, and the neighborhood claims to host the largest Mardi Gras celebration in Baton Rouge.
Baton Rouge resident Matt Isch traces the history of Capitol Park and Spanish Town from its discovery by the French in 1699 through its crucial role in the American Revolution and the Civil War, its days as a thriving college campus, and the seat of government for the State of Louisiana. After attending Louisiana State University, Isch worked in the capitol for several years as a speechwriter and special assistant and later pursued a career in fundraising.