If you expect a plantation house tour to conjure visions of Scarlett O’Hara descending a sweeping stair, try Nottoway or Madewood; but for the true culture and architecture enthusiast, Magnolia Mound is a gem. Built in 1781, it is the oldest wooden structure in Baton Rouge. Sitting on a high ridge facing the Mississippi River and once the center of a 900-acre indigo and sugar farm, it is a rare example of the architectural vernacular adopted by the earliest Louisiana settlers. The other day I toured Magnolia Mound for the second time—the first time being approximately 25 years ago. The house is …continue reading