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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. In 1840 a square plan, two and a half-story, peripteral style mansion of stuccoed brick was built in front of the original portion. The normal rear gallery was omitted because of the close proximity of the old house.
Exclusive Dining at Latil's
Visiting the Plantations of Louisiana's River Road CNHI cnhinews.com - cnhinews.com
Visiting the Plantations of Louisiana's River Road CNHI cnhinews.com.
Posted: Wed, 11 Jul 2018 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Each menu is updated seasonally to reflect the availability of locally grown produce, providing a true farm-to-table experience. Both tourists and locals enjoy the quaint feeling of the intimate settings each restaurant and The Turtle Bar provide. It’s easy to imagine dining in the 1830’s when using exact replicas of the original china used by General Wade Hampton. Reservations are required for Latil’s Landing and suggested for The Carriage House Restaurant. The historic plantation now includes 38 acres of one of the South’s most beautiful gardens, as well as three restaurants and a luxury Inn. When I had the opportunity to visit a beautiful River Road antebellum mansion, I had no idea I was going to be touring a haunted Louisiana plantation house and its grounds.
Houmas House Estate and Gardens
In 1882, Oliver enlisted his son-in-law, William Porcher Miles (widower of Elizabeth Beirne, Oliver’s daughter) to manage his Louisiana Estates. In 1888, at the age 77, he died in New Orleans, leaving as estate valued at over five million dollars. The Houmas was inherited by his five grandchildren, the children of William Porche Miles. In 1892, the children transferred all their interests to the Miles Planting Company and William P. Miles was appointed President. Sometimes called “Burnside Plantation” after its location, or simply referred to as “The Houmas,” this 10-acre spread draws its name from the native Houma people who once resided in the New Orleans area. The plantation features a main house completed in 1840 along with eight other structures.
La Petite Fille (The Little Girl) At The Haunted Louisiana Plantation
The mighty Mississippi River gave birth to this land over the millennium, creating the fertile lands which became the great fields of Sugar Cane, Cotton, Corn, Indigo, tobacco and more. The richness of the land, great forests of cypress, and the abundance of wildlife for hunting attracted settlers in the early 1700’s and eventually into the hands of the Great Sugar Barons in the early 1800’s. In 1803 Donaldson and Scott built a new center hall cottage directly in front of the1700’s French House. In 1829, General Wade Hampton began the task of enlarging the Donaldson Cottage and transforming it into the Classical Revival Mansion that stands today. For over 240 years, the Houmas Mansion has evolved and grew with the times and with the owners of the great mansion. The great colonnade has not changed since 1829, when General Hampton set out to build a mansion fitting for his wife, Mary Cantey Hampton.
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. 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.
Attendees were given light-up lanyards synchronized with the garden lights and fountain for an even more festive atmosphere. During the 2020 Travel South Conference in Baton Rouge, I attended a private party at Houmas House Plantation. Houmas House, located in Darrow, Louisiana, graciously hosted us and provided an authentic Southern experience. The 38-acre property was even better with these talented musicians playing a variety of genres, such as zydeco and big band.
The variety of blooming flowers and trees is simply breathtaking. The museum provides historical information about life on the Mississippi. After the amazing tour we enjoyed a sunset stroll through the gardens. The rooms provided a variety of artifacts across many decades and many styles.
Houmas House Estate and Gardens is conveniently located between Baton Rouge and New Orleans, just 4 miles from I-10 on Louisiana’s historic River Road. The plantation is less than an hour from New Orleans’s Armstrong International Airport and less than a half-hour from Baton Rouge. From the stunning collection of azaleas and camellias to the tranquil koi ponds and fountains, the gardens offer a serene escape into nature’s beauty. The lush flora and meticulously designed landscapes create a picturesque setting that is ideal for leisurely strolls and quiet contemplation.
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. These tours offer a deeper understanding of the plantation’s significance and its place in Louisiana’s cultural tapestry.
Tour Louisiana’s Great River Road - Bus & Motorcoach News
Tour Louisiana’s Great River Road.
Posted: Thu, 18 Jul 2019 07:00:00 GMT [source]
The Crown Jewel of Louisiana's River Road features antiques and Louisiana artwork, three award-winning restaurants, gardens, ponds and oaks. Guided mansion tours are offered daily and offer a glimpse of plantation life. A collection of boutique wines have been selected to accompany our Nouvelle Louisiane Menus. The Wine Cellars at Houmas House are as unique as the Plantation itself. Unique bottle holders are attached to the masonry walls, allowing each label to be read without having to touch the bottle. The white wine cellar is also home to our selection of fine champagnes, it is kept at exactly 56 degrees F.
Burnside and Company, the largest dry-goods store in the city of New Orleans. Burnside sold his very lucrative trading and dry goods business in New Orleans for $2,000,000 in 1858. He made the decision to enter the sugar business and began his Sugar Empire with the purchase of Houmas Plantation in 1858 for $1,000,000 dollars. Changes in ownership through the years have led to changes in appearance, but the house and grounds today more accurately reflect their 1840s appearance. Two rooms plus a separate bathroom make it spacious and perfect for staying a couple of days. The sofa sleeper folds out to a full size bed in addition to the King size four poster bed.
Each room is complete with a single king or queen size bed or double queen beds, luxurious bathrooms, and a porch to enjoy the view. The land on the banks of the Mississippi was originally purchased in 1830 to establish a sugarcane plantation. The mansion, which was completed in 1839, was also the location where prized Centennial pecan trees were developed by an enslaved gardener. The iconic Greek Revival home is distinguished by 28 Doric columns, one for each tree in the allée. The grounds also include formal gardens, a blacksmith shop, and a cemetery. Despite extensive investigation, the exact chronology and early building history of Houmas House remain unknown.
Around 1900, another daughter of Houmas House died, this time on the plantation. Col. William Porcher Miles and his wife, Harriet, lost their daughter at the age of 7 to illness. She was laid to rest in the family cemetery, which was located down by the river.
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. The next morning we started our our day with breakfast at the Dixie Cafe. She did a wonderful job sharing all the history and answering all the questions we had. The food was delicious, they offer a mix of New Orleans style food, seafood and more. Some of our favorite parts were the oriental gardens and the sculptures gardens.
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