To increase their wealth, they decided that they should own slaves and run a sugar plantation. [16], Analysis of glass and nails from the site confirms three major periods of occupancy of Yucca House, c. 18071821, c. 1874-1888 (renovation likely after the 1884 purchase by Joseph Henry), and c. 1916-1930 (renovation by Henry's son John and his wife Carmelite "Miss Cammie" Henry). They do offer a full breakfast included in the price. Remodeled by Architect James Dakin 1837. You will experience Mardi Gras, Jazz Fest, French Quarter Fest and the weather is cool and youll also avoid the mosquitos and humidity. A few free blacks also owned slave holding plantations in Louisiana, Virginia, and South Carolina. go above and beyond these other six slave owners by owning over twice as many. Many slaves were skilled blacksmiths, masons, and carpenters who were often contracted out. Please be aware of this issue and plan accordingly. Some of Louisiana's most prosperous planters and farmers were free African Americans, the owners of more property than free blacks in any other state. To read more about me and my storyclick here. The plantation is significant for its long occupancy by the Metoyer family, which was prominent in Isle Brevelle, a strong center of the "Creoles of color" community. Important: Rideshare services (Uber, Lyft, etc.) The AC works really well and there is a HUGE shower! She spoke from a very informed place, and didn't gloss over the horrors of slavery and how it funded this country's start. As such, Antoine came out of the war in good shape and soon entered the world of politics. The purchaser, F. R. Cauranneau of New Orleans, held the land and houses as an absentee owner until April 1884, when he found a buyer willing to pay $4,500 cash. Nervous about spending big money for a fancy stay in Lake Charles? That house stands today in great condition hundreds of years later. The Spanish did come to the area in 1528 and 1543 but returned to Spain. There are many restaurants and attractions near this Plantation. and Some Acadians made their way to Louisiana and small groups arrived between 1764 and 1785. The most famous plantation in Louisiana is the Oak Alley Plantation. Discover what it was like to be a house slave, a field slave, the 1811 Slave Revolt at Destrehan Plantation. The new owner, an Irish immigrant merchant named Joseph Henry, had married into a prominent local family. People enjoy looking at pretty houses, which are more similar to European castles than our own. Mills as a starting point for their historic site documentation of the property, commissioned by the Association for the Preservation of Historic Natchitoches; copy held today by E. S. Mills. See hidden cafes, statues, museums, and more! Enslaved workers dried this sediment and cut it into cubes or rolled it into balls to sell at market. Its owner, Bradish Johnson, of New York, renamed it after Harry Whitney, an Arctic explorer and author who was also his grandson. The Louis Metoyer Plantation went on the auction block. by Louisa | Nov 4, 2022 | Plantations In the aftermath of the Civil War, many African Americans in the South were left without land or homes of their own. Guided tours depart every 40 minutes from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., and arrive every 70 and 90 minutes to complete the tour. The plantation is known for its numerous oak trees that line the alley leading up to the main house. (The debtors who sued them included the widow of J. Contrary to the 1970s-era assessment of the property, which dated the construction of Louis Metoyer's first residence (Yucca House) to the mid-1790s, review of three land surveys of 1813 show that Louis Metoyer's residence was then south of the Red River (and south of the center of the Melrose complex). Whitney Plantation is the only former plantation site in Louisiana that is entirely dedicated to the subject of slavery. It is a pilgrimage. Walking through the house and seeing the comfortable beds, fans over the table run by slave children, sweeping verandas and decks makes you feel a little ill appreciating how beautiful it is, because now you know where and how the home came to be, on the manual labor and backs of slaves. Everyone who visits the Whitney Plantation, located on the west bank of the Mississippi less than an hour's drive from New Orleans on Louisiana's historic River Road, receives a similar card . In this stage, the indigo separated from the water and settled at the bottom of the tank. Both properties have significant historical and architectural significance. Dianne tells you stories of how it was to be a slave in the fields, a house slave, stories of those from within home, and stories of her ancestors who once lived here. The plantation was built in the early 18th century, but few people visit it nowadays. 5. Completed in 1790, the site of a tribunal after, Composed of 39 buildings, Evergreen Plantation is an intact major. Whitney Plantation is the only former plantation site in Louisiana with an exclusive focus on slavery. The first enslaved people brought in French Louisiana arrived in 1719. He is a historian, local, and speaks fluent French so he knows the nuances of the history and significant interpretations not just to the house, but also to the area. Should I Form A Corporation For My Lawn Mowing Company? will bring visitors to the museum, but will often not drive back out to pick up. However, Antoine had married well back in the 1830s. Although not legally freed by his white father until 1802, Metoyer evaded Louisiana's Code Noir that prohibited enslaved men from being granted land. Research shows conclusively, through original contemporary records, that the core tract of 911 acres was granted in 1796 to Coincoin's second son, Louis Metoyer, not to Coincoin. Open to the public. The huge swath of territory purchased from Napoleon Bonaparte in 1803 was sparsely populated. Joe Jaeger, the owner and director of the New Orleans Hotel Collection, which is a regional hospitality investment firm, bought and managed the 200-room hotel. Education tours are one hour in length and are conducted by a trained member of the education department. *There will be a $25 closed-day fee for each group tour of 10 or . Destrehan Plantation is one of the oldest plantation homes in the lower Mississippi Valley and one of the oldest in the United States. Comparatively speaking though, the number of people of African descent in Louisiana at the end of the 18th century was ten times the total number of Acadians who arrived over a 21-year period. Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress. It gives you insight into the Slave Revolt of 1811, as the Destrehan Plantation was where three tribunals condemned 45 of the 200 slaves were beheaded for killing 2 white plantation owners. Its a lot of fun to tour the estate because the guides are dressed appropriately for their era. Enslaved people kept a tenuous grasp on their families, frequently experiencing the loss of sale. Metoyer. Like most planters of the region in the wake of the American Civil War and Reconstruction, they struggled financially and were able to do little to improve or maintain the property. This exhibit is a brief overview about the history of the Transatlantic Slave Trade. This post contains affiliate links. Last edited on 25 February 2023, at 00:44, World's Industrial and Cotton Centennial Exposition, Plantation complexes in the Southeastern United States, How to Apply the National Register Criteria for Evaluation, "National Historic Landmarks Survey: List of National Historic Landmarks by State", "National Historic Landmark Program: NHL Database", "Pioneer Heritage Center gives glimpse into settler life", "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Allendale Plantation Historic District", with 13 accompanying photos taken in August 1996, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_plantations_in_Louisiana&oldid=1141425990. She eventually sold the plantation. After enslaved workers on Etienne DeBores plantation successfully granulated a crop of sugar in 1795, sugar replaced indigo as the dominant crop grown by enslaved people in Louisiana. The harvest season for sugarcane was called the grinding season, orroulaison. Buy Tickets Learn More $32 Guided Tour Many more details to come on this plantation in a future article. Whitney Plantation Museum offers tours Wednesday through Monday, from 10am-3pm. The German Coast, where Whitney Plantation is located, was home to 2,797 enslaved workers. We learned that the plantation owners bought slaves that were master builders from Senegal who built the entire plantation home the kitchen and everything in between without a single nail or a screw. Whitney Plantation educates the public about the history and legacies of slavery in the United States. The Laura Plantation has more intrigue, and gossip that the French Court! In the aftermath of the Civil War, many African Americans in the South were left without land or homes of their own. Walking Tour in the French Quarter Black-Owned Tours in New Orleans Black-owned tours will take you through stories of music, history, food, slavery, and the Civil Rights Movement in New Orleans Black-owned tours offer historical and modern perspective and insight about the city of New Orleans. We can see the Whitney Plantation and St Joseph Plantations, which were used as filming locations for the film 12 Years a Slave. Learn about the HISTORY of the River Parishes! . There are now public gardens and museums at the plantation. It was Elisabeths only son who was thought to be gay that eventually married in his 40s to a woman who was Black, Native American, and white. Gardens and ruins open daily, March 1 to June 30 & October 1 to December 1. ]," Section "Annee 1830---," burial date 12 March 1832; Register 15, Church of St. Franois (present Immaculate Conception), Natchitoches. I disliked that my family, the other Black guests, and I were constantly met with uncomfortable stares by other guests or that the guide mispronounced a word. Louisiana wasnt always owned by the United States; there are still people here that dont speak English because for hundreds of years the primary language was French or Creole (and is still spoken by many people in the River Parishes). Who Owns Maison Dupuy? Please visit our Plan Your Visit tab to learn more! At the time of the cotton gins invention, the sub tropical soils in the Eastern United States were becoming depleted, and the fertilizer deposits of guano deposits of South America and the Pacific Islands along with the nitrate deposits in the Chilean deserts were not yet being exploited, meaning that there were fertilizer shortages, leading to a decline in agriculture in the Southeast and a westward expansion to new land. The largest family of free black planters and merchants outside of New Orleans was the Metoyer family of Natchitoches Parish, which intermarried with other black planters. Indigo is a brilliant blue dye produced from a plant of the same name. Private tours with less than 10 people must pay for 10 people in addition to the $25 closed-day fee. He was a son of Marie Thrse Coincoin, a former slave who became a wealthy businesswoman in the area, and Claude Thomas Pierre Mtoyer. Louis Metoyer Private Land Claim Certificate B1953 (sections 17 and 94, Township 7 North, Range 6 West), Record Group 49, General Land Office, National Archives; Louis Mettoyer claim for 883.60 acres, OPEL: May 1796, File B1953, Louis Metoyer, Opelousas Notarial Records, Louisiana State Land Office, Baton Rouge; "Enterrements, 1793-1796 [Etc. On April 10, I made a journey to the Laura Plantation in Louisiana. There is always a party happening in Louisiana no matter what time of year it is. 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