Plantation History

Table Of Content

• A Private Functions at Houmas House
• Here’s everything you need to know about Houmas House Plantation.
• Houmas House Gardens
• Antebellum History: The Story of Houmas House and Oak Alley Plantation
• The Inn at Houmas House and Gardens
• Houmas House Plantation
• Essential information about Houmas House Plantation and Gardens

If staying in New Orleans and seeking transportation, we suggest renting a car and visiting multiple plantations while seeing Houmas House. Sometimes called “Burnside Plantation” after its location, or simply referred to as “The Houmas,” this 10-acre spread draws its name from the native Houma people who once resided in the New Orleans area. The plantation features a main house completed in 1840 along with eight other structures. Houmas House has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1980.

A Private Functions at Houmas House

Both tourists and locals enjoy the quaint feeling of the intimate settings each restaurant and The Turtle Bar provide. It’s easy to imagine dining in the 1830’s when using exact replicas of the original china used by General Wade Hampton. Reservations are required for Latil’s Landing and suggested for The Carriage House Restaurant. Cooling breezes from the Mississippi River are escorted onto the property by the ancient oak alley and cascaded onto appreciative visitors lingering in the fragrant gardens shaded by the spread of the plantation’s historic oaks. Both annuals and perennials flourish in south Louisiana’s warm, moist summer climate to create a sub-tropical feeling for summertime visitors. Others took the form of grand mansions; some expressed in styles of Greek Revival, Italianate, Federal or other architectural styles.

Here’s everything you need to know about Houmas House Plantation.

Houmas was the inspiration for The Antebellum, an 8,212 sqft estate and gardens in Grogan's Point. It is one of six historically inspired estates developed by the Westbrook Building Company in 1988.[10] In-kind, The Antebellum inspired three additional plantation estates in East Shore of The Woodlands. Pricing for this experience starts at $100 per person for dinner with the option to add wine pairings and any other upgrades.

Houmas House Gardens

Luxurious cottage accommodations are also available for an overnight stay. We are still in the middle of our trip but I had to take a moment to review this team. We are currently staying in the deluxe suite on the grounds and it is perfect. We had dinner at Latils last night and not only was the food fantastic but Josh and Phyllis were inviting and provided great service. Today we toured the informative museum and toured the Mansion with Darrin who was amazing.

On each side of the house is a hexagonal two-story brick garçonniere (ca. 1840) with an ogee-shaped roof, but these are more ornamental than functional, as they measure only ten feet on each side. A short allée of four live oaks leads to the house; the other trees were destroyed for a setback of the Mississippi River levee. To move at your own pace, opt for the self-guided tour of the gardens, where the seasons are reflected by the ever-changing plants and flowers. You’ll see the herbs, fruits, and vegetables used in the restaurants at Houmas House Plantation, like basil, lemon balm, dill, mint, and edible flowers. Allow the tranquility of this oasis embrace you as you rest near the gardens’ many water features and listen to birds chirping nearby.

Some plantations in the South are finally telling the real story - The Boston Globe

Some plantations in the South are finally telling the real story.

Posted: Fri, 23 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]

John Burnside, 48 years old when he acquired the Houmas, immediately began enlarging his holdings and purchasing other sugar plantations along the Mississippi River. In a very short time he was dubbed “The Sugar Prince,” by attaining the largest sugar empire in the South. Along with his properties on the Mississippi, Burnside also purchased the largest estate in the City of New Orleans, then known as the Robb Mansion. He collected great furnishings and great works of art to appoint both his city estate, later named “Burnside Place”, and his country estate, “The Houmas”.

Houmas House Plantation

After the tour, you are free to roam the beautiful grounds for as long as you wish, and pretty much anywhere you wish. Kind of unusual given that the owner actually lives on the property.Our tour was at 7 pm on a Friday night (The house closes at 8 pm.), and we saw numerous couples dressed very nicely. We thought there was a wedding party on site, but it turns out that the "fine dining" restaurant was open. Guided mansion tours are offered daily and offer a glimpse of plantation life.

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The rooms provided a variety of artifacts across many decades and many styles. Each room was amazing to explore and our guide knew so much about everything. The food was delicious, they offer a mix of New Orleans style food, seafood and more. Upon arriving at the Houma House we were immediately impressed with the gardens and everything that the Houmas House had to offer. The Mansion is an excellent example of the peripteral type of Greek Revival architecture in which the main structure is surrounded by grand columns, each with an uninterrupted span from ground level to the roofline. After Gen. Wade Hampton of South Carolina bought the property in 1810, his son-in-law Col. John Preston and daughter Caroline began construction on the present Mansion.

Stories of slaves come to life on Louisiana plantations - The Dallas Morning News

Stories of slaves come to life on Louisiana plantations.

Posted: Fri, 17 Apr 2015 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Houmas House features 5 courtyards over a span of 38 acres that feature varying, stunning plant life all year round. After a restoration of the main house and other structures in the 1940s, the property was - and continues to be - used for filming countless movies, television series, and commercials. Considered the “Crown Jewel” of Louisiana’s River Road, Houmas House features 8 buildings and one main structure across 38 acres of land. Dating back to the 1700s, Wright's Chance is a Colonial period plantation house.

Among Houmas House Plantation and Gardens’ unique features are twin Garconierre, very rare among plantation homes. One of the “Top 20 Restaurants in America,” Café Burnside features a laidback, southern menu. This optional on-site stop is considered a must-do while visiting the plantation.

Rare and period artwork and artifacts are displayed and used to explain plantation life. The Inn at Houmas House is a collection of quaint cottages nestled along an ancient oak alley and surrounded by lush gardens, allowing guests to get lost in the tranquility of the South. The Mighty Mississippi River is just steps away and a peaceful setting to watch the sun rise or set. The cottages depict historic structures that once graced Uncle Sam Plantation, which was located downriver from Houmas House. Each room is complete with a single king or queen size bed or double queen beds, luxurious bathrooms, and a porch to enjoy the view. The Inn at Houmas House Plantation and Gardens is a classic historic plantation-style property located on the famous River Road.

Adding to the natural show performed by the property’s plant life, the property is dramatically decorated for the holidays, both inside and out. After we got all settled in we went for a stroll through the gardens. It was amazing to see so many different garden areas with a variety of sculptures, water features, plants and historic artifacts. Some of the main houses were simple home places designed as raised Creole cottages made largely from native Cypress and built for comfort and practicality. It was a working sugarcane plantation by 1803, when the United States obtained the area through the Louisiana Purchase. Shortly afterwards The Houmas was purchased by Daniel Clark, who began to develop the property and built one of the first sugar mills along this stretch of the river.

Off the menu specials are offered daily and posted on the Houmas House Facebook page. Spring comes early to plant life along the River Road, and the gardens at Houmas House literally explode overnight with color and fragrance. The gardens are managed to create a natural display of indigenous plant life and blooms alongside the more formal presentation of selected exotics that add to the overall Houmas House experience. Head to The Turtle Bar for mint juleps or French 75s before dinner at The Carriage House Restaurant, which serves traditional Louisiana dishes with a contemporary twist.

She was so knowledgeable and also shared stories that made us laugh. The gardens were amazing and actually were the prettiest we have seen so far. We are on a Mississippi River Boat cruise, and this was one of our stops. There was also a very large gift shop and a great restaurant on the grounds. Get a glimpse into the history and life along the Mighty Mississippi River between Baton Rouge and New Orleans. Explore river life on the east and west banks of the Lower Mississippi.