Monday, May 6, 2024

Houmas House Estate and Gardens

houmas house plantation and gardens

This iconic sugar cane plantation has seen a lot of history over the years, so join me on this tour of this stunning Classical Revival house that is still there on the grounds. The plantation is left with 38 acres, down from the hundreds of acres that it started with. The Sugar Cane barons of the 18th century lived along the river and there were hundreds of plantations. The Houmas House is named after the Houmas indians who were natives of the area back in the 1700’s, when this land was settled. You can read all about the history of Houmas House on the History page of their website. In the Spring of 2003, the Estate of Dr. George Crozat auctioned off the entire contents of the mansion and grounds.

Houmas House Plantation Grounds

These tours offer a deeper understanding of the plantation’s significance and its place in Louisiana’s cultural tapestry. The Crown Jewel of Louisiana's River Road features antiques and Louisiana artwork, three award-winning restaurants, gardens, ponds and oaks. For those seeking a truly immersive experience, Houmas House offers luxurious cottages for overnight stays. Nestled within the lush gardens, these cottages provide a tranquil escape and a chance to experience the Southern charm of the plantation after hours. P. Miles Jr., at the age of 45, married Harriet Waters, age 25, of New Orleans. They also enjoyed a large circle of friends that visited frequently, often staying weeks or months at a time.

Louisiana Plantation Haunted Down To Its Roots

The mansion tour was an hour long and there were maybe 12 of us on the tour, so relatively small. The gal who did the tour was very knowledgeable and eager to share. 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. Houmas House Plantation features breathtaking gardens that captivate for hours. The landscape design is an exquisite display of lily pads, ponds, lotus flowers, and exotic blooms.

Check out why our Guests loves us!★★★★★

Mr. Burnside left one of the largest estates in America to his boyhood friend, Oliver Beirne. 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. Today we toured the informative museum and toured the Mansion with Darrin who was amazing. As we sit here sipping cocktails at Turtles Bar, I cant wait to see what the rest of our trip will bring.

houmas house plantation and gardens

Each room includes a large flat screen TV, Wifi, coffee and tea makers, and  an iron to name a few. Tickets to tour the Houmas Estate and The Great River Road Museum can be purchased upon arrival. Get a glimpse into the history and life along the Mighty Mississippi River between Baton Rouge and New Orleans. Explore river life on the east and west banks of the Lower Mississippi. The slave girl appeared in the breezeway between The General’s Store and the Butler’s Pantry of the mansion. This unique plantation definitely has plenty of history and lore that has been passed down for generations.

Choose Your Tour!

LSU professor: It's Louisiana's time to ditch 'happy slaves' myths, confront horrors, help to heal - The Advocate

LSU professor: It's Louisiana's time to ditch 'happy slaves' myths, confront horrors, help to heal.

Posted: Sun, 31 Mar 2019 07:00:00 GMT [source]

The last time I visited a plantation in Louisiana was Oak Alley in 2015 with my sister. Slavery was a horrific and tragic part of Southern history and the plantations that dot the Mississippi River in Louisiana were some of the biggest offenders. So I’m not glorifying slavery at all, but rather looking thoughtfully at a beautiful home and garden plantation house that does have a rich history, with slavery a big part of that history. The website does mention 550 slaves at Houmas House during slavery days and before the Civil War. 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.

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. In 1899, at the age of 77, William Porcher Miles died, and the Houmas Estate and Company was inherited by William P. Miles, Jr., and his sisters. The mansion is completely handicap accessible and each room provides several places to sit throughout the guided tour.

houmas house plantation and gardens

Overall we were very impressed with the Houmas House and cannot wait to visit again someday. The museum has so much to see and learn about be sure to plan to spend a few hours to be able to see everything. After breakfast we toured the Great River Steamboat Museum. The next morning we started our our day with breakfast at the Dixie Cafe.

Houmas House, Oak Alley among travel site's Top 20 historic home tours; vote for your favorite - The Advocate

Houmas House, Oak Alley among travel site's Top 20 historic home tours; vote for your favorite.

Posted: Wed, 16 Dec 2015 08:00:00 GMT [source]

The cottages are designed to mirror historic structures, offering a traditional experience that still provides modern conveniences. All rooms include a comfortable bed, luxurious bathroom, and a porch for enjoying the views of the grounds. Both annuals and perennials flourish in south Louisiana’s warm, moist summer climate to create a sub-tropical feeling for summertime visitors. We took the guided tour, and our guide (Darren) was not only very knowledgeable, but also quite amicable.

The sofa sleeper folds out to a full size bed in addition to the King size four poster bed. The French doors open into a courtyard shared by other guests, but surrounded by lush gardens. A visit to Houmas House Plantation is a delightful experience, with one-hour tours of the mansion, gardens, and more available at $35.

Plantations in Louisiana are one of the most sought after attractions throughout the state. Located between Baton Rouge and New Orleans, The Houmas House Estate allows visitors to experience the life on a sugarcane plantation in the 1800’s. The mansion has been restored to the antebellum era, reflecting the opulence and wealth this sugarcane farm boasted in the 1880’s. The guided mansion tour walks through the 250 year history, showing the architectural evolution of this manor house and how it became a grand estate. Rare and period artwork and artifacts are displayed and used to explain plantation life. Situated on over 36 acres, the Houmas House was built in 1828 (though the venue itself dates back to the 1700’s) and completed in 1840.

The choice was made to select the best features from various periods to showcase a legacy of each family in the mansion. After extensive restorations to the house and grounds, the Houmas re-opened for tours in November of 2003. 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.

He collected great furnishings and great works of art to appoint both his city estate, later named “Burnside Place”, and his country estate, “The Houmas”. He shared his time between the two grand properties and entertained lavishly. At the age of 71, John Burnside, feeling ill, traveled to White Sulpher Springs, West Virginia for what he hoped would be a restful recovery.

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