Oak Alley Plantation, Photo ©Mario Savoia / Stockfresh
If you can tour only one antebellum plantation, make it Oak Alley. I’ve seen almost every Louisiana plantation that is open to the public and Oak Alley is definitely the queen of them all! The mansion itself is magnificent but it’s the alley of trees that is not duplicated anywhere in the world.
Established as a sugarcane plantation in 1830 by crazy rich Valcour Aime, the land was traded to his brother-in-law Jacques Roman who in 1839 built a house impressive enough to lure his sweetie from New Orleans to the country. For more history, take the tour…
Most house museum tours can be dry and the docents can be a bit scripted. Oak Alley is no different. But the tour of the mansion isn’t the end of the Oak Alley experience. Your admission fee of $20 gains access to the extensive grounds including the 800 foot alley of trees that lead to the Mississippi River. On site are also a Civil War encampment, a blacksmith exhibit, a gift shop, a sandwich cafe, and a gourmet Creole lunch bistro.
Opened in 2013 “Slavery at Oak Alley” is an exhibit consisting of a cluster of reconstructed slave quarters that documents slavery at the plantation from 1800 to emancipation. In one house next to a display of torture implements is a wall listing the name of every slave who lived and worked there.
I personally think that a Hollywood exhibit would be an interesting addition to the collections. If you recall, Oak Alley was the plantation that Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise burned to the ground in Interview with the Vampire?
Located on the Great River Road at Vacherie, Oak Alley is one of those incredible landmarks that should be added to your “to do” list.