In 1804, duparc, a french naval veteran of the american revolution, acquired the property. The plantations tours focus on the unique creole culture of 19th century louisiana as described in the memoirs of laura lacoul gore, the last of. It has no hoopskirted guides, offering instead a thorough view of daily life on an 18th and 19thcentury sugar plantation, a cultural history of louisianas creole population, and a mesmerizing, indepth examination of one creole family. The plantation was run by four creole women, most notable, was laura, from where the plantation gets its name. Louis, missouri, details the daily life and major events of the inhabitants, both free and enslaved, of the plantation that she and her female fore bearers ran.
Have your passport ready to enter the world of creole louisiana and experience what has been called the best history tour in the u. Formerly known as duparc plantation, it is significant for its early 19thcentury creolestyle raised big house and several surviving outbuildings, including six slave cabins. In addition to the duparcs and the locouls, laura was inhabited and worked by just as many generations of enslaved people of west african. Make your own way to laura plantation, located an easy 1hour drive from new orleans and the french quarter. Laura plantation is a restored historic louisiana creole plantation on the west bank of the. The bulk of the book is the memoirs of laura locoul gore, who, born into the family and the business, chose to leave it for the world of the man she loved. Located near new orleans, this historic site is open daily for tours. Built in 1805, this french creole style plantation displays some of the exceptional work of the west african slaves that once lived there. Originally named after her great grandfather, the duparc plantation name was changed in 1874 to the laura. Laura plantation is a restored historic louisiana creole plantation on the west bank of the mississippi river near vacherie, louisiana, u. For generations the creole family maintained a lifestyle different from the white anglosaxon protestants. Explore our favorite hotels to find accommodations near laura creole plantation in laura creole plantation for your leisure or groups trips. Memories of the old plantation home invites the reader into the world of creole louisiana.
Louisianas creole plantation, just 4 miles distant from each other but worlds apart. It is centered on the family of laura plantation, a creole sugar plantation just west of new orleans. Laura creole plantation is located at 2247 louisiana 18. Laura plantation explore history of a louisiana creole. Louisianas creole heritage site was established in 1805. Laura plantation a brief history entrance to laura plantation gift shop and ticket purchasing shop. Let laura locouls memories of the old plantation home transport you into the lives of 4 generations of this sugar plantation s creole men, women, slaves and children. Laura creole plantation and airboat swamp tour tripshock. Dont forget to visit the new museum exhibit displaying the daily lives of those who lived, free and enslaved, on the sugar plantation. Laura is an active sugarcane plantation with a tour that lasts up to 1. Guillaume duparcs sugar farming complex was originally called lhabitation duparc, then years later, renamed the laura plantation. The creole functioned in an elitist structure, based on family ties.
Home, provided much of what is known about life on laura plantation. The creole plantation named best history tour in the u. Old oaks and human histories at laura plantation country roads. Please arrive 15 minutes before the tour you would like to attend and allow 90 minutes for your visit. Go beyond the myths of the american south and explore the complex and intimate relationships of 4 generations of one louisiana creole family, both free and enslaved at laura. The gift shop has displayed some books about the area and related subjects. Learn about the history of the laura creole plantation and of new orleans. Tour itineraries from new orleans plantation parade. Laura plantation was originally called lhabitation duparc, after guillaume duparc 17521808, the frenchborn patriot of the american revolution, who is the progenitor of the four successive generations of duparcs and locouls who owned laura until 1891. A creole plantation, a major sugar plantation located on the banks of. Louisianas creole heritage site will bring stories of past generations to life, revealing the lives of the slaves and the people who owned them here in louisiana creole country. Laura, a creole plantation, has a rich and unique history, from the home itself to the stories of the four women that ran it, one of which it was named for.
Mar 05, 2000 this memoir and documentation of creole plantation life by laura locoul gore was something i was very interested in reading after having visited the laura plantation on a trip to louisiana myself. Laura plantation tour provided by laura plantation. Emile rebaptized the creole plantation after his daughter laura, and it has been called the laura plantation ever since. Im a bit of a history nerd but it was like stepping back in time. This creole plantation tour is based upon 5,000 pages of documents found in the french national archives and upon lauras memories of the old plantation.
Acquired in 1804 by guillame duparc laura plantation is a creole plantation. Duparc also acquired adjacent parcels from acadians who had settled the. New book by william guion offers a poetic vision of the unique creole interpretive site. The laura plantation is steeped in history and we had a fantastic tour guide to share it with us. A creole plantation discover four generations of one creole family, both free and enslaved, who lived together on this creole sugar plantation. In addition to the duparcs and the locouls, laura was inhabited and worked by just as many generations of enslaved people of west. Tripadvisor laura plantation tour provided by laura. On the great river road only one hour from new orleans. Aug 24, 20 unlike other plantations doting the mississippi river, laura. Hotelslodging near laura creole plantation are provided in the list below ordered by distance.
It makes one want to go out, find a plantation home, buy it and restore it. In addition to the duparcs and the locouls, laura was inhabited and worked by just as. Louisianas creole heritage site is focused on the generations of a real louisiana creole family, both free and enslaved, and highlights the legacy of the plantation within a larger historical and cultural context. Louisianas creole heritage site can be crowded, so we recommend booking etickets ahead of time to secure your spot. Laura plantation is located on river road midway between baton rouge and new orleans. Laura, a creole plantation in vacherie, louisiana kid. This creole plantation tour is based upon 5,000 pages of documents found in the french national archives and upon lauras memories of the old plantation home, in which she details 250 years of truelife stories of the creole women, children and. Drive out to laura plantation to enjoy the best history tour in the u. The home is open for tours daily, except for creole holidays new years, mardi gras, easter, thanksgiving, and christmas. Sep 05, 2014 the laura plantation site describes the creole lifestyle this way. We visited the laura plantation while in new orleans and also stayed at the olivier house hotel that was the home of her grandmother elizabeth lacoul that laura visited as a young girl.
A creole plantation built in 1805 with 12 original buildings and the slave quarters where american brer rabbit tales were first recorded. Go beyond the myths of the american south and walk in the footsteps of four generations of one lousiana creole family, both free and enslaved. Sep 10, 2017 laura plantation a brief history entrance to laura plantation gift shop and ticket purchasing shop. Based on the plantation memoirs of laura lacoul, a young creole girl who grew up on the plantation, the tour narration centers on the charmed and tragic lives of this. Louisianas creole heritage site tickets and tours on tripadvisor. The laura plantation tour near new orleans is considered by many in the tour industry as the best historical plantation tour in the mississippi valley.
Tour laura plantation, a creole plantation in vacherie. This plantation tour includes the maison principale big house, the french jardin, the plantation kitchen garden, the banana grove, and the original 1840s slave cabins where the legendary tales of compair lapin known in english as brer rabbit were first recorded. In 1936, laura locoul gore compiled an account of nearly 100 years of life on a louisiana sugar plantation named after her. A creole plantation and focuses on the white and black creole families that lived at this place in the nineteenth century. The laura a creole plantation part 3 here are some pictures of laura though the years.
The short story of each plantation home is interesting and the photographs are gorgeous. Hear the fascinating history of the creole women that inhabited this vast sugarcane plantation on an informative, 90 minute guided tour of the big house and grounds. A creole plantation, louisiana, usa the exhibition list. At its largest size, it was approximately 12,000 acres, which included properties amassed over time.
Louisi anas creole heritage site tickets and tours on tripadvisor. Unlike other plantations doting the mississippi river, laura. The women ran the plantation over 60 years, using slave labor. The tour of the plantation was amazing and i had very high hopes for the book. While most are in exquisite condition, there are a very few which arent. I have not read the book yet, but i recently visited the plantation in question and the books were on sale there for half the price i paid and i found the story of laura. A new orleans plantation tour laura plantation a creole. Creole families also believe business was family, and the family was business meaning the business could only be passed down only to family. A visit to the plantation will open up the world of creole women, teaching guests all about the lost world of laura locoul gore and her creole family. Louisi anas creole heritage site was established in 1805. Enslaved families remembered at laura plantation creolegen. Take home with you a piece of history and learn more.
This book is handsdown one of the most beautiful picture books on louisianas remaining plantation homes. Laura plantation tour new orleans swamp, city, katrina tours. Discover intimate, firsthand accounts of four generations of one louisiana creole family, both free and enslaved. Louisi anas creole heritage site will bring stories of past generations to life, revealing the lives of the slaves and the people who owned them here in louisiana creole country. My family took one of the last tours of the day here. A creole heritage site, which dates back to 1805, and walk in the footsteps of 4 generations of one louisiana creole family, both free and enslaved. The 1805 main house and original outbuildings of this sugarcane plantation provide the setting for true accounts about four generations of both free and enslaved members of one louisiana creole family, based on the memoirs of the original owners greatgranddaughter. The laura plantation site describes the creole lifestyle this way. A creole plantation in great river road attraction. As you walk through the house, banana grove, garden, and slave quarters, youll catch a glimpse of the plantation as it would have looked over 200 years ago, complete with furnishings of the period and photos of its original residents.
Located on great river road in the heart of new orleans plantation country on the banks of the mississippi river, laura plantation provides a window into the creole culture that thrived in louisiana for more than 200 years. The first owner was a french naval veteran of the american revolution who married into the oldest family of french louisiana settlers. A creole plantation has a rich and unique history, from the home itself to the stories of the women who ran it. Its not as fancy as houmas house because it was more of a working plantation. A creole family album by laura locoul gore and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at.
Jun 20, 20 laura plantations first family typified the creole nature of louisiana. Formerly known as duparc plantation, it is significant for its early 19thcentury creolestyle raised big house and several surviving outbuildings, including two slave cabins. Tour laura plantation, a creole plantation in vacherie louisiana. This plantation is known for its massive collection of antiques, artworks, and period dressed tour guides dressed in antebellum gowns. Encounter two very contrasting aspects of plantation life. Laura plantation is an 1805 sugarcane plantation that provides daily guided tours of the big house, the grounds, and slave cabins. In its philosophy, economics and politics, european custom and modern thought were thrown out and, in their place, a strict, selfserving pragmatism was born out of the isolation and desperation that. This memoir and documentation of creole plantation life by laura locoul gore was something i was very interested in reading after having visited the laura plantation on a trip to louisiana myself. Learn about those who ruled the sugarcane plantation and those who worked here in bondage. Tour this 200 year old sugarcane plantation with a walk through of the big house as well as the slave quarters.
If you book with tripadvisor, you can cancel at least 24 hours before the start date of your tour for a full refund. View evergreen, whitney, felicite columbia, and st. This creole plantation tour is based upon 5,000 pages of documents found in the french national archives and upon laura s memories of the old plantation home, in which she details 250 years of truelife stories of the creole women, children and. The laura plantation, a onetime sugar plantation centered on a 19thcentury house, sits on the mississippis great river road within easy reach of new orleans. May 09, 20 the lauraa creole plantation part 3 here are some pictures of laura though the years. A creole plantation tells the story of a business handed down through four generations through a collection of fourteen stories based on 5000 pages of archives discovered in the archives nationales in paris and the memoirs of former plantation owner, laura locoul gores memoirs to her children.
One of the most intriguing tours along louisianas river road is offered by laura. View laura plantations catalog of books, ornaments, magnets, sugarcane products, prints and maps. The main house was completed 11 months later by highly skilled slaves using prefabricated methods. Once youre done at houmas house, head to laura plantation. Laura plantation tour st louis, usa activities lonely.
Joseph as you travel the old river road to visit laura, a creole plantation whose charm is as rich as her history. Aug 05, 2012 laura locoul gore 18611963, whom the restored laura plantation is named after, wrote her memoirs of the plantation in 1936 detailing daily life and major events of the plantations inhabitants i bought a copy and am currently reading. Hear intimate, firsthand accounts from women, children, and slaves. Mar 01, 2017 laura plantation was originally called lhabitation duparc, after guillaume duparc 17521808, the frenchborn patriot of the american revolution, who is the progenitor of the four successive generations of duparcs and locouls who owned laura until 1891. Learn why laura creole plantation was awarded the title of top travel attraction by the louisiana office of tourism. If you see only one plantation, make it laura, simple on the outside but utterly absorbing within. What you end up with is a true highlight of your new orleans visit. The adults and older kids love all the saw and learned here but the little ones ages 5, 7, and 9 had a harder time.
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