Are you good at traveling? You have a chance to travel through the American states and learn more about the history of your country. Let’s talk about Louisiana. This is a state of old plantation houses and admiring nature, place of old capitols and other architectural artifacts. The most of the buildings are furnished with beautiful period items, surrounded by gardens and groves. Some of the villas and capitols are taken for rent for holidays. Do you want to spend your wedding day like a princess? Just rent Rolls Royce in Baton Rouge and organize your wedding in the Old Capitol.
Traveling through Louisiana, pay attention to the Great River Road with a big number of old villas. That was the most favorable place for organizing plantations. On your tour you can learn more about the war period and the past lifestyle. There are so many old houses standing side by side along the river that it looks like a long street of historical artifacts. Here are Louisiana’s most famous and recognizable plantation houses you are recommended to visit.
San Francisco Plantation
Are you surprised with the house’s name? This house was renewed and looks great now. It was built in about 1800 and had long and heroic past. Thus, it was a slave cabin in 40th and a school house in early 30th. Anyway, its gothic style and chic inspired and still inspires poets and novelists to write their masterpieces, make films, and keep the old villa in safe as a National Historic Landmark.
Destrehan House
According to the documents, this is the oldest plantation house in the Mississippi Valley. Actually, this is not one house, but a small community that consists of several households. The main villa was built in 1787. By the way, you can easily imagine how the houses looked many years ago. Their interior and facades are exactly the same as they were 200 years ago. If you have some free time and spare money you can book a dinner in one of the houses.
Oak Alley Plantation
The name of this plantation talks for itself. The old beautiful building is surrounded by the quarter-mile entrance canopy of 300-year-old oak trees. You cannot find a better place for photography! By the way, if you want to see the most complete houses, storage rooms, schools houses, and churches, you should go to the next-door place – St. Joseph Plantation.
Houmas House Plantation
No surprisingly, this plantation can be met when you go upriver from Oak Alley. The main house was built in 1860. This place can boast its gardens, house interior, and stylish restaurants around.
Laura Plantation
What a beautiful name! This house can be found next to the Oak Valley. It was named after Laura Locoul (4th generation of the Laura Plantation family). It is a great exhibition that everyone is welcomed to visit to learn more about the enslaved population of the Old America.
Evergreen Plantation
This small cottage was built in 1792 by German immigrants. The house was built not far from the wood so that it was called a Green or Evergreen Plantation. You can one of the most complete collections of slave cabins, untouched house interior, and the beautiful forest around the house.
Whitney Plantation
The next plantation you meet along the River Road is the Whitney Plantation. It speaks about the real plantation life as it was many years ago. You feel like you live and work here. The slave cabins and a church are situated near here. If you want you can take an excursion on your own or join the touristic group.
St. Joseph House
The house was built in 1830. This is a unique piece of architecture, built in Creole style with Greek Style elements. The plantation was renewed, rebuilt, and sold to different families. To learn more, you are also offered to join the excursion tour. Don’t forget to visit an oak grove at the back of the house. Some of the trees are more than 300 years!
Frogmore Plantation and Gins
As most of the old houses along the road, this plantation is dated by 1800. This is unique place for Louisiana because it still works as a cotton producer. Honestly, this is one of the best cotton plantations in the Mississippi area.
So, why people like visiting old houses? First of all, they want to take an excursion and learn everything about the city history, households, and the way of life of their forefathers. All of these unique houses speak about slavery and still keep the original slavery cabins on their territory. Traveling through the River Road you can see not only houses of interesting architecture, but green spots around them. The oak groves, forests, parks are still in demand for taking photos. But you have to find more comfortable place for a picnic. All these plantations are protected by the state law. Just find a good restaurant near here.
