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These tours offer a deeper understanding of the plantation’s significance and its place in Louisiana’s cultural tapestry. What a lovely afternoon we spent walking around the beautiful gardens then touring the mansion . Our tour guide was a young girl who was very knowledgeable and brought the house to life ( sorry forgotten her name ) . Finished the day with a mint julep very nice indeed .Worth a visit. The Inn at Houmas House is a collection of quaint cottages nestled along an ancient oak alley and surrounded by lush gardens, allowing guests to get lost in the tranquility of the South.
Guided Tours in Darrow, LA
Stories of slaves come to life on Louisiana plantations - The Dallas Morning News
Stories of slaves come to life on Louisiana plantations.
Posted: Fri, 17 Apr 2015 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Mr. Kelly allows tours of the mansion and gardens, however the Houmas remains his private residence, as it was for its previous owners for over 240 years. You can read all about the history of Houmas House on the History page of their website. What a lot of history housed in this beautiful historic plantation home. We sure did enjoy our visit and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys historic homes, architecture and gardens. Guided tours of the mansion and gardens provide a comprehensive and informative experience. Expert guides share stories of the plantation’s history, architecture, and the lives of the people who once lived and worked there.
The Antebellum
She enjoys exploring the back roads of the USA and uncovering stories about unique destinations, cultures and almost-forgotten history. In its early years, Houmas House plantation had an oak alley leading from the river’s edge to the house. These “allees” were (and still are) common in Louisiana because the trees help funnel the cooler air from the river straight to the residence. It feels like a real home in this view where people live and work (which it is since the owner does live there) and not just an historic home that’s open for tours.
Explore Louisiana
In fact the plantation — once called “the crown jewel of Louisiana’s River Road” had lost its luster and fallen into disrepair in the 1990s. Here are two of the ghostly tales that reveal why the Houmas House is definitely a haunted Louisiana plantation. Along with deep ties to the land comes stories passed down from generation to generation.

Houmas House Restaurants
The Louisiana Ghost Story That Will Leave You Absolutely Baffled - Only In Your State
The Louisiana Ghost Story That Will Leave You Absolutely Baffled.
Posted: Thu, 26 Oct 2017 07:00:00 GMT [source]
They entertained with dinner parties, garden parties, buggy races and hunting excursions. In the 1920s, a failed sugar crop forced the family to sell off the plantation piece by piece. Finally, the family moved to New Orleans, and the Houmas was used mostly for weekend and Holiday retreats. It was during the 1890’s that the Miles Family enlarged the mansion by connecting the 1829 mansion to the French House, to the rear. The carriageway was created between the two buildings and two additional bedrooms and a center hall were added to the 2nd floor of the mansion. During the Miles period, the 2nd floor housed seven bedrooms.

There bodies were never recovered from the mighty Mississippi. The Live Oaks in front of Houmas House are beautiful and majestic. Back then it went almost to the river and there was no levee of course. I do not recall all the things we heard on the tour about the inside of the house, but you can enjoy all the beautiful pics and read more on the website I’ve linked above. If you missed Part 1 of the Houmas House & Gardens, be sure and click over to tour the garden tour of this magnificent plantation home. Soon after the death of Wade Hampton II on February 10th, 1858, John Smith Preston decided to sell the Houmas Plantation.
What Are The Hours Of the Houmas House Plantation?
Despite the national economic depression and decline in plantation life, “The Gentlemen” stood as a reminder of a more opulent time. The 24 stately trees leading from the river to the house continued to stand guard and provide cooling breezes. John Burnside, 48 years old when he acquired the Houmas, immediately began enlarging his holdings and purchasing other sugar plantations along the Mississippi River. In a very short time he was dubbed “The Sugar Prince,” by attaining the largest sugar empire in the South. Along with his properties on the Mississippi, Burnside also purchased the largest estate in the City of New Orleans, then known as the Robb Mansion.
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Houmas House has a museum and 3 restaurants on the grounds, so it’s a great way to spend the day. The Houmas House has elegant architecture, captivating gardens, and a wealth of attractions, a visit to this enchanting estate offers an immersive journey into the past. It was a working sugarcane plantation by 1803, when the United States obtained the area through the Louisiana Purchase.
On April 15th, 1858, the Houmas Plantations were sold to John Burnside, of the firm of J. All the buildings are really authentic to the time period portrayed. It’s a very unique looking museum, so I’m sure it would be full of historical memorabilia and facts. We loved the food and the variety of options they offered. Nestled amidst the lush landscapes of Louisiana, the Houmas House Plantation stands as a testament to the region’s rich history and grandeur. This beautiful and spacious two room suite features a King size four poster bed in a private bedroom with a separate living room with a sofa sleeper.
In A Field Guide to American Houses, Virginia Savage McAlester writes that rooftop cupolas are common to Federal, Italianate, Octagon, Second Empire, and Greek Revival buildings. You’ll find them on many Victorian- and Georgian-era structures. At this point in time, only a caretaker and his wife lived on the Houmas House property because the plantation was out of the sugarcane business. (The couple lived in what is now used as the plantation’s Bridal Cottage). Around 1900, another daughter of Houmas House died, this time on the plantation.
Houmas was the inspiration for The Antebellum, an 8,212 sqft estate and gardens in Grogan's Point. We are still in the middle of our trip but I had to take a moment to review this team. We are currently staying in the deluxe suite on the grounds and it is perfect. We had dinner at Latils last night and not only was the food fantastic but Josh and Phyllis were inviting and provided great service.
They never returned to Houmas House, but those back in Louisiana who knew of the child’s love for the plantation mourned the loss. The historic Houmas House showcases what life was like on a sugarcane plantation in the 1800s and provides insight on the families who once lived there. You can see the carriageway here added on in the 1890’s to connect the original French cottage to the main house. Horses and carriages were brought in here to deliver guests. The home owner still lives here, but allows tours of the home.
The cupola roof can also be bell-shaped, flat, tall and pointed, or match the style of the home, like a hip roof. Copper is a popular traditional choice for cupola roof accents. Take a tour of the grounds, book a stay at the inn, plan your next special event with us, or learn more about local restaurants, things to do and what to see in the area.