Page 148 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - New Orleans

146  BEY OND NE W ORLEANS

Exploring Lower Mississippi Plantations original plantation have been
reduced by several levee setbacks
By 1850, two-thirds of America’s millionaires lived on over the years, and so today it
plantations located along the Great River Road. The economic stands very close to the road.
relationship between the plantations’ production and the
trade from New Orleans to the rest of the world made it one P Laura
2247 Hwy 18, Vacherie. Tel (225)
of the wealthiest regions of the nation. The treasures of this 265-7690. Open 10am–4pm daily.
glory are displayed in homes from New Orleans to Baton Closed major holidays. & 8
Rouge, with colorful French and Spanish Creole architecture ∑ lauraplantation.com
and beautiful natural surroundings. Revolutionary War veteran
Guillame Duparc was given a
large land grant and built the
classic raised Creole plantation
house in 1805. After he died,
four generations of women ran
the plantation. In 1891, Laura
Locoul sold the property in
order to marry and move with
her husband to St. Louis.
The plantation gained
notoriety for the stories told
by the French-speaking slaves,
later tenant farmers, living
there. Folklorist Alcée Fortier
first translated these Senegalese
stories about Brer Rabbit, which
later inspired Joel Chandler
Harris’s Uncle Remus and Brer
Destrehan plantation Rabbit books.
After being devastated by
E Destrehan cherubs, trailing vines, flying fire in 2004, the house was
13034 River Rd, Destrehan. Tel (985) parrots, and exquisite faux meticulously rebuilt under
764-9315. Open 9am–4pm daily. marbling and graining. the guidance of architectural
Closed major holidays. 8 & 7 Commissioned by Edmond’s historians. Guided tours are
∑ destrehanplantation.org son, Valsin, and his daughter- offered daily by reservation.
Charles Pacquet, a free man of in-law in 1860, they were so
color, built this home for Robert expensive that Valsin named P Oak Alley
de Logny in 1787. The original the house Saint Frusquin, from 3645 Hwy 18, Vacherie. Tel (225) 265-
Creole cottage was modified in the French sans fruscins, meaning 2151. Open Mar–Oct: 9am–5pm daily;
1810 and 1840. Union troops “without a penny.” The name Nov–Feb: 9am–4:30pm Mon–Fri,
housed freed slaves here during eventually became corrupted 9am–5pm Sat & Sun. Closed Jan 1,
the Civil War (see pp20–21). to “San Francisco.” Valsin died Thanks giving, Dec 25, Mardi Gras. 8
before he could enjoy the & 7 ∑ oakalleyplantation.com
E San Francisco house he had imagined, and Oak Alley’s name comes from
2646 Hwy 44, River Rd, Garyville. shortly after the Civil War his the 28 magnificent live oaks
Tel (985) 535-2341. Open 9:30am– widow sold it to a Colonel that line the entrance to this
4pm daily. Closed Jan 1, Easter, Bougere. The grounds of the plantation home. They were
Thanksgiving, Dec 25, Mardi Gras. &
8 ∑ sanfranciscoplantation.org
The term “Steamboat Gothic”
has been applied to this ornate
plantation home built in
1856 for Edmond Bozonier
Marmillion. Originally it was
painted in flamboyant purples,
blues, and greens, and the
structure was decorated with
plenty of ornate grillwork and
gingerbread trim. The interiors
feature some splendid ceiling
paintings completed by
Dominique Canova (cousin of
the famous sculptor) featuring San Francisco plantation, the ultimate in “Steamboat Gothic” style

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Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2.7)
Date 1st October 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm