Anyone familiar with Louisiana geography and such?

Question

I was just wondering where the majority of the old plantations are located, mostly in terms of their proximity to big cities and swamps. I've only ever been to New Orleans!

Answer 1

There are no plantations in the New Orleans city limits; the plantations nearest to New Orleans are located on the River Road, on both sides of the Mississippi River. In recent years, 2 Louisiana plantations less than 100 miles from New Orleans have burned. One is Tezcuco, which Barry mentioned. It is no longer in existence, having burned to the ground on Mother's Day, 2002. The other plantation which burned is Laura, located on the westbank of River Road. It is being rebuilt and restored, and is still open. The closest plantation to New Orleans is Destrehan, about a 45 minute drive from downtown New Orleans. It dates to the colonial period in the late 1700s and is the oldest surviving plantation along River Road. Along with Destrehan Plantation, there is Ormond, San Francisco, and Houmas House on the eastbank of River Road, and on the westbank there is Laura, Nottoway, Oak Alley and St. Joseph plantations. All those I have mentioned are open to the public for tours, and are also available for rental for special events. There are very few working plantations left today.
If you really want to get a sense of the history and culture of the real plantations and how life was really like on them in the mid-1800s, I strongly suggest taking a guided tour of the plantations with one of the tour companies from New Orleans. You learn a lot more that way and don't have to worry about getting lost on River Road. The plantations are actually located more west than north of New Orleans, and most are within a 2-hour drive, but that's only going to ONE plantation--to go to more than one is an all-day trip, as they are not that close together nowadays.
I'm a New Orleans tourguide and Louisiana native. See links for plantations below:
If you want to see a plantation-STYLE house, go visit Longue Vue Gardens, just off Metairie Road, near I-10 and the cemeteries. and just a short drive from downtown New Orleans. It's the beautiful estate of the late Edgar and Edith Stearn, who was the Sears heiress. www.longuevue.com.

Answer 2

The plantations are located all throughout the state along the rivers. Since the rivers were the only form of transportation....where you find a river, you will find a plantation. Most of those that are preserved are are the Old River Road traveling from New Orleans to Baton Rouge. It follows the levee alongside the river the whole way.

Answer 3

There are some really nice plantation homes in central Louisiana, near Alexandria. St. Francisville and Cottonport.

And there are a few that string along between Baton Rouge and Lafayette.

Answer 4

LA hi way 75 will follow the Mississippi River. And you will see many Plantations and Orange trees and Lime Lemon and Tangerine trees grow wild. Follow the hi way into New Orleans. You will start out in Plaqimine.

Answer 5

Some are a bit north of N. O., they were sugar cane plantations before the civil war. There are some lovely larger homes in Alexandria, in central LA but wouldn't call them plantations. There is the McIllenney Island spread (you know, Tabasco) if it's still there...

Answer 6

http://www.planetware.com/houma/southdown-plantation-terrebonne-museum-us-la-154.htm
this is a plantation about 1 hour southwest of new orlean and there are two other one in a town called thibadux
there is the Mertals plantation (bed and breskfist) in race land you can see it from the over pass as you drive on hwy 90
Then there is Larual Vally around that area too and there are still the slave houses standing.

Answer 7

Just follow the levy road traveling north along the Mississippi River from new orleans and you will find many Plantation Homes, and Historical sites.

If you go by a welcome center you may find lititure on many sites,ext.

Answer 8

St. Francisville has a lot of plantations, ive been and loved it.