What a treat to visit Oak Alley Plantation!
Situated on the Mississippi River, it is one of the few preserved plantations open to the public near New Orleans.
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| Oak Alley |
This Greek Revival home was built in 1837 and was situated to take advantage of an alley of oak trees that were planted by early settlers in the 1700's.
These trees are 300 years old and are expected to live another 300 years!
Let's take a tour!
Starting with the grand entry.
A large veranda, as seen from the living room, surrounds the entire home, both top and bottom, providing shade during the hot summer.
The parlor.
The parlor table is set with rum for the men, and a jar of fruit soaked in rum for the women.
Since it was unseemly for women to drink liquor, they got around it by eating the rum soaked fruit!
The dining room can seat 16 people.
The large object hanging from the ceiling is actually a fan, not a chandelier.
A rope is attached to it, and during dinners, a slave would stand in the corner and pull it so the guests were fanned. There was an art to this: too much and the candles blew out!
A typical Creole tablescape!
At the top of the stairs is the mourning room.
When someone died, the body was laid out for viewing here.
The room was also used as an isolation room when someone was ill.
Yellow Fever was common and two of the original owner's children died from it.
When someone died, the body was laid out for viewing here.
The room was also used as an isolation room when someone was ill.
Yellow Fever was common and two of the original owner's children died from it.
The Master bedroom...
...with a gorgeous hand carved bed.
The upstairs hallway.
Notice the stairs going up another floor.
Unfortunately, we didn't get to explore up there.
The last owner, Mrs. Josephine Stewart lived to be in her 90's and died in 1972.
This was her room.
Our tour guide in costume.
This is the money shot!
A breathtaking view from the veranda, looking down oak alley towards the Mississippi River.
The upstairs veranda.
Outside, there are beautiful boxwood gardens planted by the last owner, Mrs. Stewart.
At one time there were roses too.
The building in the distance is a garage with two antique cars.
There is a Civil War replica tent set up on the grounds.
Mr. A found the history fascinating.
I found the tent with all the furnishings fascinating!
The Civil War historian.
Recently, Oak Alley Foundation reconstructed a slave quarters exhibit.
This is a typical fireplace in one cabin.
A mortise and tenon rope bed.
Seeing Oak Alley Plantation was worth the two hour bus ride from New Orleans.
It felt like we were back in time during the Antebellum South days.
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