Page 161 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - New Orleans

C A JUN C OUNTR Y  159

the plantation home in 1831.
He died shortly there after,
leaving his wife, Mary Clara, to
run it. During the Civil War (see
pp20–21), when Union General
Nathaniel P. Banks seized it and
made it his headquarters, Mary
Clara retired to the attic where
she died in 1863. The last owner,
Weeks Hall, was a well-known
artist and scholar, who restored
the house and entertained
many famous visitors in it,
including director Cecil B.
DeMille and writer Henry Miller.
Their names are inscribed in
the foyer. Moss-draped oaks and spring-flowering plants in the Jungle Gardens
On Avery Island, the
McIlhenny Company Tabasco the beaver-like nutria. In winter, drilled through the salt dome,
Factory and Jungle Gardens wildfowl stop here too. causing an explosion that
is the source of the famous The Rip Van Winkle House set off a minor tidal wave on
hot sauce, which is an essential and Gardens are located on the lake. Miracu lously, no one
ingredient in Bloody Marys and the salt dome called Jefferson was killed.
in local cuisine. Approximately Island. It was built by the actor
75 acres of pepper plants blaze Joseph Jefferson in 1870 and P Shadows on the Teche
their bright red color from named after the role he played 317 E Main St, New Iberia.
August to November. A brief 4,500 times. Architecturally, Tel (337) 369-6446. Open 9am– 5pm
film explains the process in it is a hodgepodge of Moorish, daily. Closed major hols. &
which the red chili peppers are Steamboat Gothic, and Victorian. ∑ shadowsontheteche.org
crushed and combined with The house is surrounded by E McIlhenny Company Tabasco
salt and vinegar to make the 25 acres of beautiful gardens, Factory and Jungle Gardens
zesty sauce. Visitors can also which are on the banks of Hwy 329, Avery Island. Tel (337)
tour the bottling factory. Lake Peigneur. 365-8173. Open 9am–4pm daily.
The founder considered After Jefferson died in 1905, Jungle Gardens: Tel (337) 369-6243.
himself a botanist-naturalist J. Lyle Bayless of the Salt Island Open 9am–5pm daily. Closed major
and the Jungle Gardens that he Mining Company purchased hols. 7 & 8 ∑ tabasco.com
assembled are spectacular. In the house. Shortly afterward, P Rip Van Winkle House
addition to abundant camellias oil was discovered on the and Gardens
and azaleas, there are such property. It was soon 5505 Rip Van Winkle Rd, Jefferson
exotica as Latin American producing up to 250,000 Island. Tel (337) 359-8525.
papaya. The gardens also shelter barrels of oil a week from Open 9am–4pm daily.
a diverse population of egrets, 30 wells. In 1972, the Texaco Closed public hols. 7 8
herons, and peacocks, as well as Oil Company mistakenly ∑ ripvanwinklegardens.com

Shadows on the Teche in New Iberia
Colorful wares on display at a market in the French Quarter

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