Destrehan Plantation Guided Tour at Destrehan Plantation (Up To 31% Off)
Embark on a journey through history at Destrehan Plantation, where the legacy of Louisiana unfolds along the banks of the Mississippi River
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1 hour tour
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Interpreters intrigue you with the legacy of the Destrehan family, the individuals who were subjected to involuntary servitude on the plantation, and historic events such as the 1811 Uprising, The Civil War, and the Ross Home Colony.
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Few Southern plantations bring the past to life as brilliantly as the costumed historic interpreters at Destrehan Plantation. They’ll take you from room to room in the Big House, sharing tales of the people both free and subjected to involuntary servitude, who lived here during outbreaks of yellow fever and before and after the Civil War.
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You’ll learn about plantation architecture, view one-of-a-kind documents, and discover history in a way you just can’t get from a book. You’ll get a chance to view family treasures. You’ll see a registry listing the names of the individuals who were subjected to involuntary servitude and worked on the plantation, and you’ll step inside an actual laborer cabin, where you can see how they lived.
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After your tour, you can explore several self-guided exhibits, dependency buildings, and the grounds. Our Miller-Haydel Museum (once an overseer’s cabin) hosts the 1811 German Coast Uprising exhibit, the largest revolt against involuntary servitude in U.S. history. The event led to the execution of 44 people trying to escape involuntary servitude, including three from Destrehan Plantation: 30-year-olds Gros and Petit Lindor and 45-year-old Jasmin.
Destrehan Plantation
From the banks of the Mississippi River to the annals of history, our story begins amidst the muddy waters and dense swamplands of Louisiana. René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, embarked on a journey along the length of the mighty river, claiming the territory for France in anticipation of its potential wealth. Among those drawn to this new frontier was a young scion of a prominent Parisian family, deeply entrenched in the court of Louis XV. Setting sail for the New World, he sought not only adventure but also a legacy that would leave an indelible mark on Louisiana and the burgeoning United States.
This young man, in shaping the destiny of Louisiana, contributed to the standards by which new territories were integrated into the Union and influenced the legal landscape of the state. Little did he imagine that the family home his son would inherit would endure into the 21st century, now known as Destrehan Plantation.