Page 149 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - New Orleans

L OWER MISSISSIPPI PLANT A TIONS  147

and then covered with
stucco to give the illusion of
masonry. In 1964, New Orleans
preservationist Naomi Marshall
saved the house from ruins
after it lay neglected for years.
She and her family then spent
13 years restoring the building
and grounds. It now serves as a
bed-and-breakfast inn, and the
site for many events, such as
classical music recitals, art fairs,
and holiday celebrations.
E Houmas House
40136 Hwy 942, River Rd, Darrow.
The Great White Ballroom at Nottoway plantation Tel (225) 473-9380. Open 9am–8pm
daily. Closed Jan 1, Dec 25. & 8
planted about 300 years ago, gunboat officer, who asked ∑ houmashouse.com
even before the house was built that it be spared because he With its grand two-
for Jacques Telesphore Roman III had once been a guest of the story verandas and
in 1837. The house and grounds Randolphs. It now operates as monumental Tuscan
are so striking that it has been a bed and breakfast. columns, Houmas
used as a location for several House is one of the
movies, including The Long Hot E Madewood most recognizable
Summer (1985) and Interview 4250 Hwy 308, Napoleonville. plantation villas in
with the Vampire (1994). A slave Tel (985) 369-7151 or (800) 375- the South. As well as
gardener developed the first 7151. Open by appointment only. sprawling gardens,
commercial variety of pecan nut, Closed Jan 1, Thanks giving, Dec 25. there is also a second
the “Paper Shell,” on the property. 8 & ∑ madewood.com house, a two-story
Built in the prosperous times French Colonial-era
E Nottoway of pre-Civil War Louisiana, structure, which is
30970 Hwy 405, White Castle. Madewood is unusual among attached to the
Tel (225) 545-2730. Open 9am– south Louisiana plantation main house by a Embroidery
4pm daily. Closed Dec 25. 8 & houses. It is a classic carriageway. The stand
∑ nottoway.com Greek Revival house, main house, dating
This is the largest uninfluenced by the from 1840, is furnished in high
plantation on this stretch raised Creole villa style antebellum style with a fine
of the Mississippi. It was that predominates in collection of period antiques.
designed by architect the region. The first It survived the Civil War because
Henry Howard to significant building its Irish owner, John Burnside,
accommodate John by architect Henry claimed immunity as a British
Hampden Randolph, Howard, it was erected subject. A wealthy merchant,
his wife, and a family Antique clock between 1840 and Burnside amassed several sugar
of 11 children, and at Nottoway 1848 for sugar planter mills and at the end of the
completed in 1859. Thomas Pugh using 19th century, this plantation
Randolph was a wealthy sugar construction materials from his was producing as much as
planter originally from Virginia. holdings. Bricks for the exterior 20 million pounds (9 million kg)
The mansion occupies 53,000 were made on the plantation of sugar each year.
sq ft (18,000 sq m), with 64
rooms, 16 fireplaces, 200
windows, and 165 doors. At the
time it was built, it incorporated
some innovative conveniences
such as indoor plumbing, gas
lighting, and coal fireplaces.
In the Great White Ballroom,
which is 65 ft (22 m) long,
seven of Randolph’s daughters
celebrated their weddings. It is
the largest and most impressive
room in the house. It survived
the Civil War due to the
intervention of a Union Houmas House, a fine example of Greek Revival style

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