Page 356 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - USA

354  THE DEEP SOUTH

Louisiana the famous Br’er Rabbit stories
translated into English by Joel
Renowned for its moody landscape of bayous and swamps, Chandler Harris.
antebellum plantation homes, jazz, and fine food, Louisiana A 15-minute drive from New
is a state richly steeped in his tory and tradition. Its pre­ Orleans, Destrehan Plantation,
dominant French heritage is the legacy of the French settlers built in 1787, is the oldest
documented plantation home in
who named the colony for Louis XIV. Both France and Spain the Lower Mississippi Valley.
colonized Louisiana before the United States finally acquired The French Colonial-style home
the territory through the Louisiana Purchase of 1803. features demonstrations of
Louisiana became a state in 1812 and in the following decades indigo dyeing and other crafts like
played a strategic role in the Civil War and the painful struggle bousillage construction, a method
for Civil Rights. Today, the state preserves both its Colonial using a mixture of clay and Spanish
moss. San Francisco Plantation,
history as well as its distinct Creole and Cajun heritage. near Garyville, is a 40-minute drive
Highlights include the beautiful plantations along the away from New Orleans. Built
Mississippi and the cultural delights of Cajun Country. in 1856, under centuries-old
spreading live oak trees, this
galleried home in the Creole open-
2 Plantation Alley Corps of Engineers after the suite style is listed as a National
flood of 1927, block the river Historic Landmark. It has now fully
Hwy 18 from New Orleans, which
joins Hwy 1. n New Orleans from the road. The tradition reopened after being restored
Convention & Visitors’ Bureau, (504) since the 1880s has been to following a fire in 2005.
566-5011; the bureau maintains a list light bonfires atop them each Closest to Baton Rouge and
of tour operators. ∑ neworleans Christmas Eve, to illuminate the the area’s largest plantation
cvb.com way for Santa Claus. home, the palatial 1860
Oak Alley Plantation in Nottoway Plantation occupies
Before the Civil War, the Vacherie, is 40 miles (64 km) west an area of 53,000 sq ft (4,924
Mississippi River was lined with from New Orleans airport. A sq m), and comprises 65 rooms,
plantations producing indigo, quarter mile of arching live oaks, 165 doors, and 200 windows.
then cotton, rice, and sugar were planted some 300 years ago, Completed in 1859, its largest
introduced. At the time, this was leads to a striking 1839 house. room is the Grand White
one of the nation’s wealthiest The picture of the Greek Revival Ballroom, where the owner, John
regions and home to two-thirds mansion down the long arcade Hampden Randolph, celebrated
of America’s millionaires. Of the seems the archetypal Deep his daughters’ weddings.
350 opulent estates that once South image. Both the house In addition to guided house
flourished here, around 40 and garden have been used tours, several plantations now
remain. Of these about a dozen as a location for several movies, operate restaurants and
are open to the public on a including Interview with the comfortable B&B inns.
stretch of the Great River Road Vampire (1994). The mansion Arsenal
(see pp50–51) between New offers five B&B cottages for P Oak Alley Plantation Park
Orleans and Baton Rouge, overnight stays. To its east, Laura 3645 Hwy 18 Vacherie. Tel (225) 265- State
known as “Plantation Alley.” Plantation has an 1805 Creole 2151. Open 9am–5pm daily. Closed R IVER R OA D Capitol
Today, large petrochemical house constructed of cypress, Jan 1, Mardi Gras, Thanksgiving, Dec 25. SPANISH TO WN ROAD
plants have replaced sugar cane designed by Senegalese builders. & 7 ∑ oakalleyplantation.com State
Library
and cotton as the mainstay of The plantation slaves are thought P Laura Plantation N OR T H STREE T
the riverside economy. High to be the source of various 2247 Hwy 18. Tel (225) 265-7690. MA I N STREE T
levees, reinforced by the Army Senegalese folk tales, including Open 9am–5pm daily. Closed Jan 1, Greyhound
3 RD S T 4TH ST LAU R EL 7TH ST STREE T Station
Mardi Gras, Easter, Thanksg., Dec 25. i LA FAYETTE ST STRE E T
& 7 ∑ lauraplantation.com p p R IV ER R O A D F LO R I D A
i C ONVEN TI ON S TR EET
s
P Destrehan Plantation s Old Governor's N O R T H BO U LEVA RD
13034 River Road, Destrehan. i s Mansion
Tel (985) 764-9315. Open 9am–4pm s i Louisiana Old AMERICA STREET
daily. Closed public hols. & M State Capitol LOUISIANA AVENUE
∑ destrehanplantation.org
G O V E R N ME N T S T R EET
P San Francisco Plantation USS Kidd
2646 Hwy 44, Garyville. Tel (985) 535- EUR OPE STREET
2341. ∑ sanfranciscoplantation.org RIV E R R OA D ST LOUIS STREET F E R D I N A N D S T
MAYFLOWER STREE T
P Nottoway Plantation
31025 Hwy 1 White Castle. Tel (225)
545-2730. Open 9am–4pm daily.
Closed Dec 25. & 7 Magnolia Mound Plantation Louisiana State University LSU Rural Life Museum
6 miles (10 km)
1 mile (1.5 km)
2 miles (3 km)
The Grand White Ballroom, Nottoway Mansion, in Plantation Alley ∑ nottoway.com
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp368–70 and pp371–3
354-355_EW_USA.indd 354 11/2/16 2:45 PM
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
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Date 12th July 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm