AndiAlong the Mississippi River, lies one of the most iconic Louisiana plantations. Oak Alley Plantation is a must see when traveling to Louisiana! This plantation showcases the wealth from sugarcane aka white gold in the Antebellum period.
When people think of plantations, they may think of grandiose mansions, huge oak trees and beautiful gardens. Or they may think of slavery and all that entails. History is important to help us not make the same mistakes and Oak Alley does an incredible job of sharing its history. They give details of what daily life was like for the owners and the slaves.
History of Oak Alley Plantation
Oak Alley is one plantation, but the lives of its residents are vastly different. There’s incredible wealth and luxury for the owners. Then enslavement for the lives of over a hundred people.
Jacques Thelesphore Roman came into possession of the land in 1836 after the death of his mother. He immediately started building the mansion for his wife Celina.
With the land, he inherited 144 slaves. As a slave holding plantation, they were required to do everything from building the mansion to harvesting the sugarcane. Some of the duties included caring for the owners children, cooking, cleaning, laundry, gardening, blacksmithing, planting and repairs.
The sugarcane industry took a hit after the Civil War, due to the end of slavery. The plantation went through several owners before 1925.
In 1925, Andrew and Josephine Stewart purchased Oak Alley. Josephine created the Oak Alley Foundation to ensure people would be able to visit the plantation and learn it’s history. She died in 1972 and is buried with her husband on the property.
Oak Alley Location
Oak Alley Plantation is located along the Mississippi River between Baton Rough and New Orleans. Roughly about an hour away from each city.
3645 Highway 18 (Great River Road) Vacherie, LA 70090
When to Visit?
Open daily except New Years Day, Mardi Gras Tuesday, Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Hours are 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Allow a minimum of two hours for a visit.
6 Things To See & Do At Oak Alley Plantation:
Mansion Tour
This is a must! The guides do a great job of taking you through the house. They point out original pieces and artifacts. Plus tell many stories of the owners and the slaves.
Fyi, they do not allow photography in the house at this time.
Alley of Oaks
This plantation is known for it’s Alley of Oaks. There are exactly 28 trees that form an alley from the Mississippi River to the home. Highly recommend walking to the end to see these gorgeous trees that are 300 years old!
Slave Quarters
You can’t miss these buildings! The buildings are not original, however it’s a good example of the size and type of dwelling they lived in. They share about a few of the slaves that lived there and what they endured.
There were 20 cabins with 40 living spaces. Each space would hold one family which would be 2-5 people.
Stroll The Gardens
There are two different gardens each representing two different periods in Oak Alley’s history. The West Garden is inspired by the Antebellum period and the East Garden represents the Stewart’s contribution to the property.
Eat
There is a restaurant on property that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Next door is a gift shop with treats if you’re only a little hungry. Plus there’s a bar on property too!
Stay
Oak Alley Plantation has cottages that you can rent for the night. Staying overnight allows you 24 hour access to the grounds. Perfect for sunset pics or the Alley of Oaks with no people. For more info, click HERE.
Tips for Visiting Oak Alley Plantation:
- Arrive early! This is a very popular tour and will get crowded.
- Bring water. It’s a big property and Louisiana is HOT!
- Buy a historic guide book. It’s $10, but gives you great historical facts that may have been missed on the tour.
- Wear comfortable shoes, because there is a ton of walking!
- Allow at least two hours to see the property.
Overall I highly recommend a visit to see Oak Alley Plantation. If you are in Louisiana, stop by to see it!
If you are interested in visiting other plantations in the area, check out these posts:
5 Things to do at Houma’s House and Gardens
[…] Must See at Oak Alley Plantation […]
[…] Oak Alley is one of the more popular plantation tours. It has a grandiose mansion with an alley of oak trees leading to the Mississippi. The grounds are absolutely gorgeous! The tour does a great job of talking about both the owners and the slaves. Check out this post on Oak Alley for more info. […]