Historical Southern Antebellum Plantations
Webpage Revision & Update Beginning 4/25/13 ~ please return in the future for completed revision and newly added photographs
Introduction
As a child, I was fascinated with southern plantations. My wonderful mother would take me to see them in Natchez, Mississippi- as we lived only 2 hours away. As an adult, when I moved back to Mississippi in the mid-1990's- I began making an effort to tour the plantations I always wanted to see. I have visited most of the plantations in Mississippi and Louisiana- some several times.A few years ago I thought it was finally time to document my visits to these places for others to get inspired to take time to see these wonderful places.
I took the following photographs over the last 15 years while visiting most plantations available to tour across Mississippi and Louisiana.
I have also chosen to address these plantations for their uniqueness and their historical context within history if applicable.
Windsor Ruins and Valcour Aime plantations are important historically, so I have written in-depth of their history.
In this world of 'plantation tourism,' some plantations are authentic and some are more what I call 'tourist' traps. These opinions listed on my web page are solely mine. As a researcher of southern history and visiting southern plantations for over 17 years, I think I am more than qualified to suggest the best 'true' plantations that are a must see. There are a few plantations that I have not had the chance to visit yet, but when I do, I will add them to this page.
I have listed the best plantations to see as 'Highly Recommended.'
The best historical plantations to see in Louisiana & Mississippi:
- Bocage Plantation - Darrow, Louisiana
- Windsor Ruins - Port Gibson, Mississippi
- Afton Villa Gardens - Francisville, Louisiana
- Bocage Plantation - Darrow, Louisiana
- Ashland Belle-Helene - Geismar, Louisiana
- Oaklawn Manor - Franklin, Louisiana
- Butler-Greenwood Plantation- St. Francisville, Louisiana
- Rosedown Plantation - St. Francisville, Louisiana
- Chretien Point Plantation - Sunset, Louisiana
- Greenwood Plantation - St. Francisville, Louisiana
- Waverly Plantation - West Point, Mississippi
- Destrehan Plantation - Destrehan, Louisiana
- Shadows-on-the-Teche - New Iberia, Louisiana
- St. Joseph Plantation - Vacherie, Louisiana
- Longwood Plantation - Natchez, Mississippi
- Auburn Antebellum Home - Natchez, Mississippi
- Rosalie Mansion - Natchez, Mississippi
Other plantations listed on this page:
- Valcour Aime Plantation
- Nottoway Plantation - White Castle, Louisiana
- Myrtles Plantation - St. Francisville, Louisiana
- Cottage Plantation - St. Francisville, Louisiana
- Oak Alley Plantation - Vacherie, Louisiana
- Madewood Plantation House - Napoleanville, Louisiana
- Arlington Plantation - Franklin, Louisiana
- Laura Plantation - Vacherie, Louisiana
- Houmas House - Darrow, Louisiana
- Evergreen Plantation - Edgard, Louisiana
- Felicity Plantation - Vacherie, Louisiana
- Walter Place - Holly Springs, Mississippi
- Dunleith Historic Inn - Natchez, Mississippi
- Click here for a detailed old brochure of Natchez Plantations & a map of current 2013 Spring Pilgrimage House Tours
Smith C. Daniell, II, a wealthy cotton planter, owned over 21,000 acres of plantation land in Mississippi and Louisiana. He completed his Greek Revival 4 story mansion with Italianate and Gothic influences in 1861. Surrounding the house were twenty-nine columns of molded red brick and plaster built 30 feet high, which set on paneled stiles. Massive cast iron Corinthian capitals were placed atop each column with elaborately scrolled balustrades. Eight chimneys broke the roofline, drawing smoke from 25 fireplaces with imported marble mantels. Rainwater stored in large tanks in the attic supplied 2 bathrooms.Winsor Ruins
Central halls divided 23 rooms that included three 19” by 20” rooms on each side of the hallways of the main floors. The full ground basement contained storage rooms, a diary, commissary, doctors office, and a schoolroom. The two residential floors had double parlors, a library, the master suite (consisting of a bedroom, study, and bath), and many bedrooms. A three-story wing on the rear provided kitchen, pantry space, and a dining room. On top of the house was an observatory. From this, Mr. Daniell could see his entire Mississippi plantation and much of his land across the river in Louisiana.
The mansion survived the Civil War, but was destroyed by accidental fire in February 1890. All photographs and drawing of the mansion were lost in the fire. Lt. Henry Otis Dwight, a union soldier in Major General Ulysses S. Grant’s army, drew the shown sketch in 1863.
These standing columns stand as a monument to the disappearance of the Old South. These massive columns are breath-taking to see and very impressive.
Highly Recommended.
Website: http://www.nps.gov/vick/forteachers/upload/Windsor-2.pdf
Location: Port Gibson, Mississippi- ruins are located 12 miles southwest of Port Gibson on Hwy 552.
This sketch of Windor was drawn in 1863 by Lt. Henry Otis Dwight , a union soldier in Major General Ulysses S. Grant’s army.
Photographs taken June 2002
Click here to see more photographs of Windsor Ruins
Details coming soon...
Bocage Plantation
Highly Recommended.
Website: http://bocageplantation.com/
Location: 39050 Highway 942, Darrow, Louisiana
Photographs taken March 1935
© Walker Evans Archive, The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Photograph reminds me of the 'times gone by' of this house.
Photographs taken April 2013
Click here to see more photographs of Bocage Plantation
Valcour Aime Plantation
Location: Hwy. 18, Vacherie, Louisiana
Click here to see a brochure of Valcour Aime Plantation
Click here to read first hand account of a visit to this plantation in March 1847
Photographs taken July 2010
This is all that remains of a mansion built in 1849 that was copied from a chateau in France. It was destroyed by fire in 1963. The ruins have been transformed into a garden where flowers bloom year round. The original gardens that comprised over 20 acres of formal gardens have remained intact and have been resurrected to their original grandeur. I have been visiting these gardens for years...
Afton Villa Gardens
Highly Recommended.
Website: http://www.aftonvilla.com/
Location: Hwy. 61, St. Francisville, Louisiana
Photographs taken March 1935
© Walker Evans Archive, The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Photographs taken between 1997 and 2008
Click here to see more photographs of Afton Villa Gardens
This plantation house was completed in 1841 in Greek Rivival Style of architecture. Personally, this is my favorite plantation. Sadly, it is closed to the public except for rare openings for pilgrimage tours.
Ashlandbelle-Helene Plantation
Highly Recommended.
Location: Hwy. 942 (River Road), Geismar, Louisiana
Click here to see an information brochure of Ashlandbelle-Belle Plantation
Photographs taken March 1935
© Walker Evans Archive, The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Attic and ladder to roof
Photographs taken in 1996 and 1998
This house was built in 1827 on the Irish Bend of Bayou Teche near Franklin, Louisiana. After the Civil War, the house fell into disrepair and was purchased in 1927 by a steamboat captain named C.A. Barbour that admired it from his paddle wheeler on the Teche. Mr. Barbour filled the house with the antiques he had purchased around the world. The movie THE DROWNING POOL (1975) with Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward was filmed here. Pictured below are a Venetian chandelier and Napoleon Bonaparte's desk. The house is a private residence and is open for tourist.Oaklawn Manor
Highly Recommended.
Website: http://www.oaklawnmanor.com
Location: 3296 E. Oaklawn Drive, Franklin, Louisiana
Photographs taken around 1996
Butler-Greenwood Plantation
Doctor Samuel Flower built this plantation in the 1790's. He was the first doctor in this area of St. Francisville. Mr. Flower's descendants still occupy the house to this day. This plantation contains more original furnishings, clothing, porcelains, and portraits than most antebellum homes open for tours in Louisiana. I have toured this house twice and thoroughly enjoyed the tour. The owner, Ms. Anne Butler, is charming and gracious. Today it is a Bed and Breakfast with quaint cottages. My stay there in 1997 was wonderful.
Sadly, the house will be closed for tours after this year, but the Bed & Breakfast will be open still.
Ms. Anne Butler is also an accomplished author of some wonderful books on Louisiana History, Louisiana Guides, and cookbooks.
Website for her books: http://www.butlergreenwood.com/books.html
Highly Recommended.
Website: http://www.butlergreenwood.com
Location: 8345 US Highway 61, St. Francisville, Louisiana
Dr. Flower's medical records/journal and medical supplies
Photographs taken April 2012
Bed and Breakfast at the 'Dovecote' windmill cottage
Photographs taken in 1997
This plantation was built in 1835 in only 6 months for Daniel and Martha (Barrow) Turnbull. Daniel Turnbull became one of the richest men in the nation by selling cotton. At one time, Rosedown covered over 3400 acres - most of it in cotton.Rosedown Plantation
While on their honeymoon 6 years earlier, Martha admired the formal gardens in Europe and over the course of decades- the plantation formal gardens grew to 28 acres. Martha Turnbull kept a diary of her gardens for over 60 years.
This is one of the most complete plantations left that contain original furnishings and personal items from the 19th century.
Highly Recommended.
Website: http://www.crt.state.la.us/parks/irosedown.aspx
Location: 12501 Highway 10, St. Francisville, Louisiana
Click here to see a detailed map of Rosedown Plantation
Photographs taken June 2010Myrtles Plantation
Website: http://myrtlesplantation.com/index.html
Location: 7747 U.S. Highway 61, St. Francisville, Louisiana
Photographs taken around 1997
Chretien Point Plantation
Highly Recommended.
Location: 665 Chretien Point Road, Sunset, Louisana
--Plantation closed for restoration--
Click here to see an old brochure from Chretien Point
Photographs taken March 2012Cottage Plantation
Impressive history wise, General Andrew Jackson visited here in 1815 while on his way to Natchez after being victorious in the Battle of New Orleans. Also, the father of the second owner, General Richard B. Butler, placed the American flag at Yorktown after America's victory in the Revolutionary War.
Website: http://www.cottageplantation.com/
Location: 10528 Cottage Lane, St. Francisville, Louisiana
Early nineteenth century creole style mahagony and cherry lolling chair
that is the only known chair to survive with the original leather.
Photographs taken June 2010
Beauregard House
Built around 1834 on the Chalmette Battlefield where the Battle of New Orleans was fought in 1815. The house was used as a country residence in the 19th century and then was sold to the National Park Service in 1949. House and battlefield open for tours daily.
Highly Recommended for those interested in military history.
Website: http://www.nps.gov/jela/malus-beauregard-house.htm - http://www.nps.gov/jela/chalmette-battlefield.htm
Location: 8606 West St. Bernard Highway, Chalmette, Louisiana
Photograph in early 20th century
Photographs taken May 2005
Oak Alley Plantation
Oak Alley Plantation was completed in 1841 and is famous for the 'oak tree alley' leading to the front of the house. Francois Gabriel 'Valcour' Aime acquired this property and sold it to his brother-in-law Jacques Telesphore in 1836. (See more Aime plantations further down on this page.) This is one of the 'commercialized' plantations that will not let you take pictures inside the house- only of the grounds. (They do sell books that you can purchase of interior photographs.) They do allow photographs of the outside- but only for personal use. The plantation was filmed in the movie INTERVIEW WITH A VAMPIRE (1994). This is a popular tourist spot on River Road.
Website: http://www.oakalleyplantation.com/
Location: 3645 Highway 18, Vacherie, Louisiana
L'Hermitage Plantation
This plantation house was named after Andrew Jackson's Tennessee home after his victory in the Battle of New Orleans in 1815. The owner Michel Bringier was among those that fought with Andrew Jackson in the battle. I found this house tour delightful and interesting in 1998. Tours are available for groups by appointment only.
Highly Recommended.
Website: http://www.hermitageplantation.com/
Location: 38308 Hwy. 942 (River Road), Darrow, Louisiana
**Photographs will be available soon**
Greenwood Plantation
The original plantation house was built around 1830 and burned in 1960. The new owners carefully researched from photographs what the original house looked like and built a new Greenwood in 1984. The movies DRANGO (1957), LOUISIANA (1984), and NORTH and SOUTH (1985) were filmed here.
Website: http://www.greenwoodplantation.com/
Highly Recommended.
Location: 6838 Highland Road, St. Francisville, Louisiana
Photographs taken March 1935
© Walker Evans Archive, The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Madeline's Bedroom from NORTH and SOUTH
Photographs taken 1996 before current changes to the interior of the house
Click here to see current photographs of Greenwood Plantation
Madewood Plantation House
This plantation was built around 1848 and contains a 50 foot ballroom. The house in now a bed and breakfast with top reviews. There are no tours unless you stay at their bed and breakfast.
Website: http://www.madewood.com/
Location: 4250 Highway 308, Napoleanville, Louisiana
Photographs taken March 1935
© Walker Evans Archive, The Metropolitan Museum of Art
**Lost photographs from visit**
Arlington Plantation
This plantation was built around 1855. This home was used as a field hospital in the Civil War in 1863. Tours are by appointment only.
Location: 56 E. Main Street, Franklin, Louisiana
**Lost photographs from visit- New photographs soon**
Laura Plantation
This sugarcane Creole plantation was built in 1805. The tour is very educational on Creole traditions and the way of life of all people living on the plantation. The tales of Br'er Rabbit - the American version- is said to have started here. Unique giftshop. Tours Daily.
Highly Recommended.
Location: 2247 Highway 18, Vacherie, Louisiana
Website: http://www.lauraplantation.com
Photographs taken around 2000 and July 2010
Shadows-on-the-Teche
This house was built between 1831 and 1834. What is remarkable about this plantation is that the family that built this left over 17,000 documents such as receipts, business letters, and personal letters. What is remarkable is that all the original china and furniture remains in the house and in excellent condition. The last family member to occupy the house was an artist and was visited by many famous people. There is an old door in his art studio that many people signed including Walt Disney and D.W. Griffith.
D.W. Griffith's 1923 silent film THE WHITE ROSE was filmed here.
Highly Recommended.
Website: http://shadowsontheteche.wordpress.com/
Location: 317 E. Main Street, New Iberia, Louisiana
Photographs taken March 2012
Houmas House
This plantation house was built in 1828 and named after the Houmas Indians who use to live there. The movie HUSH, HUSH SWEET CHARLOTTE (1963) was filmed here and the room Bette Davis stayed in has been preserved is part of the tour.
Website: http://www.houmashouse.com
Location: 40136 Hwy. 942, Darrow, Louisiana
Click here to see an old brochure from Houmas House
Photographs taken 1998
Waverly Plantation
This plantation is estimated to be built around 1852 and is unique with an interior central rotunda. Another unique feature was the third circular floor is one continuous space with no windows. This 'trunk room' was used for storage and was useful when guest came overnight. The plantation contained gardens, orchards, livestock, a brick kiln, cotton gin, ice house, lumber mill, leather tannery and hat manufacturing operation. It stood in disrepair for over 50 years- then was bought and lovingly restored. Tours daily.
High Recommended.
Telephone: (662) 494-1399
Location: 1852 Waverly Mansion Road - Off Hwy. 50 between Columbus and West Point, Mississippi
Photographs taken May 2007
This plantation is the largest antebellum plantation house left in the South which contains 64 rooms, 7 staircases, and 5 galleries. This 53,000-square foot plantation home was constructed in 1858.Nottoway Plantation
Website: http://www.nottoway.com/
Location: 31025 Louisiana Highway 1 (off The Great River Road), White Castle, Louisiana**More Photographs will be available soon**
White Ballroom
Photographs taken between in 1997 and 2003
Evergreen Plantation
This was originally built as a Creole house around 1790 and in 1832 the outside was changed into a Greek-Revival style house as it is today. What is impressive and rare about this property is the original slave quarters are still intact and in very good shape. The house tour is fair- not much to see really- no original furniture and since it is a private residence- no photographs can be taken inside. (There isn't much to photograph of great importance anyway.) This property is a working sugar cane plantation and has many original building left- but you only tour the main house, kitchen, and one slave quarter house.
Website: http://www.evergreenplantation.org/index.htm
Location: 4677 Hwy. 18, Edgard, Louisiana
Photographs taken June 2010
St. Joseph Plantation
This Creole Plantation has been owned by the same family for the last 130 years and is still a working sugar cane plantation to this day. It was originally built in 1830 by the Scioneaux family and Francois Gabriel 'Valcour' Aime purchased this plantation as a wedding gift for his daughter Josephine. Original buildings (dependencies) still exist on propery such as the kitchen, blacksmith shop, and slave cabins. Tour includes Francois Gabriel 'Valcour' Aime family history and includes an interesting film of how sugar cane is harvested and manufactured. The St. Joseph Plantation Store was open until 1990's- and was the last remaining plantation store on River Road. Unique giftshop. Tours daily.
High Recommended.
Website: http://www.stjosephplantation.com/index.html
Location: 3535 Highway 18, Vacherie, Louisiana
Photographs taken July 2010
Felicity Plantation
This home was built in 1850 with dowry money for Felicity Aime (Josephine’s sister of St. Joseph Plantation ~ and daughter of Gabriel Valcour Aime), when she married Septime Fortier. The house was a private residence until mid 1990's. Now the house is undergoing a massive restoration and in the future will be open for tours. The movie THE SKELETON KEY (2005) was filmed here.
Location: Highway 18, Vacherie, Louisiana (home before St. Jospeh Plantation)
Photographs taken July 2010
Walter Place
This mansion was completed in 1859. What makes this house unique is the massive medieval Gothic towers on each side of the house. This house is open for tourist- but it only once a day at 1 pm.
Website: http://walterplace.com/index.html
Location: 300 West Chulahoma Avenue, Holly Springs, Mississippi
Photographs taken May 2007
Destrehan Plantation
Destrehan Plantation was built in 1787 and is the oldest documented plantation home in the lower Mississippi Valley. There is an original document signed by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison to the first plantation owner on display as part of the tour. This plantation was filmed in the movie INTERVIEW WITH A VAMPIRE (1994). This is a very interesting tour and there are demonstrations daily that include open hearth cooking, indigo dyeing, and candle making.
Highly Recommended.
Website: http://www.destrehanplantation.org
Location: 13034 River Road, Destrehan, Louisiana
Interior of Slave Quarter House on property (not original)
Indigo Plant
Photographs taken June 2010**More plantations to be added**
Natchez, Mississippi Plantations
This is my favorite Mississippi plantation since I was a young child! Longwood Plantation is the largest octagonal house in America and was constructed from 1860-1861. What makes this grand house so unique is that only the basement level is completed because the Philadelphia artisans from the North hired to work on the house fled back home when the Civil War began. The unfinished 5 stories and the artifacts left behind give us a glimpse to the magestic house that would have been if it had been completed. This plantation is one of the most popular historic homes in Natchez.Longwood Plantation
Highly Recommended.
Website: http://www.natchezpilgrimage.com/dailylongwood.php
Location: 140 Lower Woodville Road, Natchez, MS
Three-story servants' building for 32 servants
Photographs taken April 2012
Click here to see more photographs of Longwood Plantation
Auburn Mansion was built around 1812. This mansion was the first major building in Natchez to follow an architectural plan. What is especially interesting is that the spiral staircase stands entirely unsupported, a feat unmatched even in modern times. After this house was sold to the city of Natchez to be used as a park in 1911, the house was left for the children in the park to play in for many years until restoration. Tour is very interesting.Auburn Antebellum Home
Highly Recommended.
Website: http://www.auburnmuseum.org/
Location:400 Duncan Avenue, Natchez, MS
Photographs taken April 2012
Click here to see more photographs of Auburn Antebellum Home
Rosalie Mansion
This mansion stands on part of the land where the French built Fort Rosalie in 1716 on the bluffs of Natchez Indian settlement.
After the Natchez War of 1716, Bienville (also founded New Orleans) as part of the peace treaty, required the Natchez Indians to build the fort. This fort was close to the main Natchez settlement; and served as the primary French stronghold and trading post until it was eventually destroyed by the Natchez Indians.
Peter Little, a native of Pennsylvania, in 1820 purchased a portion of this fort land to build his house. Interesting fact is that Peter Little's grandfather, Colonel Peter Little, was a physician to George Washington and a pallbearer at his funeral. The home is now owned and operated by the Mississippi State Society Daughters of the American Revolution. Informative tour tells of the history of the Fort Rosalie and the mansion.
Highly Recommended.
Website: http://www.rosaliemansion.com/
Location: 100 Orleans Street, Natchez, Mississippi
Where the original Fort Rosalie stood behind the now Rosalie Mansion
Photographs taken April 2012
Dunleith Historic Inn
Dunleith plantation was finished in 1856. The original house on this estate was built by Job Routh in late 18th century and later burned in 1855. It is now just a Bed & Breakfast and does not do tours only.
No need to worry, during this Spring Pilgrimage 2012 tour of this house was nothing spectacular. In this tour, we only were shown the first floor as the second floor was the bed and breakfast. The bed and breakfast here may be wonderful- but I was disappointed in the house tour.
Website: http://www.dunleith.com/index.cfm
Location: 84 Homochitto Street, Natchez, Mississippi
Servants' Quarters now part of the Bed & Breakfast
Photographs taken April 2012
Historic Natchez Tableaux
The Natchez Tableaux is a program told by scenes of Natchez History. This program tells of the following: Natchez Indians; The French arrive; The British Arrive; May Festival (custom of children of English descent); American Flag Triumphant (became part of U.S.); Virginia Reel (folk dance); Territory to Statehood; The Polka; The Showboat Under the Hill (riverboats); A Natchez Bride for Jefferson (Jefferson Davis’s wife); Soiree at Jefferson Military College; Before the Hunt; and lastly Civil War Years.
This is an excellent program and is well worth your time to see it.
Location: City Auditorium (corner of Canal Street and Jefferson Street), Natchez, MS
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