Come visit an authentic Creole plantation at the Laura plantation in New Orleans. Compared to the other plantations in New Orleans, this one is different. In order to prevent flooding the plantation house was raised, the others are not. Complete with six slave cabins, beautiful orchards, well, original outdoor kitchen, garden, chicken coop, sugar mill and more. Consequently, it’s one of the few plantations to have so many building that are still intact. Also, it’s one of the few plantations to actually offer a tour in French as well as English. All throughout the property, everything is beautifully colored with ochre, red, green, mauve, and gray to match the manor house. As far as beauty goes, this is one the the most beautiful plantations in New Orleans.
What is Creole?
Creole is a non-anglo-Saxon culture and lifestyle. Usually it is a mix of European, African and Native Americans. As a result, they speak french. Most are located in different areas of the world such as Cuba, South American, and Brazil. Louisiana is the only location in the United States to have a Creole culture.
Four generation of women
Originally named l’habitation Duparc. At it’s largest, it was 12,000 acre of sugar plantations. Although French naval veteran Duparc bought the property in 1804, he didn’t run the Creole plantation for very long. Sadly he passed away seven years later, in 1808. And the plantation was transferred over to his wife, Nanette Prud’homme, who would become the first of four women to run the plantation. In the end, she ran the operation for twenty-one years before passing it on to her three children, Louis, Flagy and daughter Elisabeth.
How the creole plantation got it’s name
Out of her three children, Elisabeth outlived everyone. When both her brothers and husband passed, she ran the creole plantation for another forty-seven years. Upon her death, the plantation was split between her two children, Emile and Aimée. Emile rebaptized the Creole plantation after his daughter Laura, and it has been called the Laura plantation ever since. When Laura sold the plantation in 1892, the sale stipulated that name must remain the Laura Plantation. Which is has.
Travel Secret & Fun Facts
- Do not take an Uber, Taxi or Lyft to get here. There is no service back with them. You will have to ask the driver to wait for you and they won’t.
- Slavery was based on class and not on color in Louisiana. Since it was a feudal class society, just about anyone could be a slave. Basically slavery was the lowest but fundamental part of the system. As a result, there were Native American slaves, African slaves and European slaves.
FUN FACTS:
- In 1830, Laura’s grandmother Elisabeth bought thirty teenage girls and had them impregnated. Ten years later she had a crop of children to use on her creole plantation.
- It was normal for men to father children with their slaves. Luckily for that child, it became an integral part of the family. However, when children were born from a free man and an enslaved woman, it is not uncommon to find minor spelling changes in the surnames of the children. This often denotes a blood relationship, while simultaneously indicating that the children are not legally recognized by the father.
Hours
9:30 am – 5:00 pm
However, in order to visit, you will be required to take a tour. Tours start at 10:00 am and run for forty minutes.
Closed New Year’s Day, Mardi Gras Day, Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day
On July 4 & Dec 24 Laura’s last tour is at noon.
Admission
$25 per person
Plan to spend about an hour here.
Directions
Laura Plantation
2247 LA-18,
Vacherie, LA 70090
From New Orleans, follow I-10 W and take exit 220 FOR i-310 S towards Boutte/Houma. Continue on I-310 S and take exit 10 for LA-3127 N. Turn right onto LA-20 E and take another right onto LA-18 E. One last right turn and the destination will be on your right.
Accommodations
The closest accommodations are in Vacherie, Louisiana. but I recommend staying in New Orleans instead so that you are can visit the attractions in New Orleans as well. My link will search through all the online sites to find you the best price available. By purchasing your trip through my link, this site will earn a small commission on your purchase. Rest assured that it will not cost you anything extra! In fact, the only difference is that this site will earn a commission instead of another booking site. Thank your sponsorship!
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