Destrehan Plantation
4.7(2.2K)google
4.3(129)yelp
PlantationHistory
Overview
Destrehan Plantation (French: Plantation Destrehan) is an antebellum mansion in the French Colonial style modified with Greek Revival architectural elements. It is located in southeast Louisiana, near the town of Destrehan. During the 19th century, the plantation was a major producer of indigo and then sugarcane.
Practical Info
Suggested Duration2-3.5 hours
Best TimeHighly recommended from October to April, Friday through Sunday mornings (9:30 AM - 12:00 PM). Established in 1787 as the oldest documented antebellum manor in the lower Mississippi Valley, morning sun highlights the French West Indies colonial double-gallerie facade perfectly. Visiting early avoids tour buses during mansion interior walks.
Getting ThereLocated northwest of New Orleans at 13034 River Road in Destrehan. Situated on the scenic river levee route, driving is highly recommended: take I-10 W past Louis Armstrong Airport, merge onto I-310 S heading south, take Exit 2 for River Road, and drive east on LA-48 E for less than a mile to see the plantation gate and its massive free lot.
Travel Tips
- The final historical guided tour begins strictly at 4:00 PM; arriving 5 minutes late triggers immediate ticket forfeiture without refund or rescheduling options.
- The historic grounds face the exposed Mississippi river levee with zero sun canopy; crossing protective turf onto active rear rail properties is strictly illegal.
Photo Tips
Photo Rules
- The mansion interior utilizes fragile historic timber; video recording and flash photography are strictly banned, and equipment will be confiscated by docents.
Reviews
Positive
- Established in 1787, this grand French colonial manor is the oldest surviving plantation house on the Mississippi River; its massive galleries under ancient live oaks pack great Southern fidelity.
- The guided tour holds immense deep historical reflection; costumed docents detail the sugar barons' wealth while dedicating massive chapters to the 1811 German Coast slave insurrection history.
- The layout is highly professional, preserving intact slave cabins, craft hubs, and historical courtrooms; smooth accessible concrete pathways cover nearly all outdoor historic quarters.
- The location is the most convenient of all NOLA area plantations, sitting just 15 minutes from MSY Airport; driving here is seamless with a massive free lot, rendering it an exceptional high-value landmark.
Heads up
- To protect 200-year-old wood planks and antique furniture, photography and video are strictly banned inside the main house rooms, proving slightly rigid and disappointing for holiday photos.
- The historic manor interior contains no modern accessible elevators due to strict historic fabric protection laws; climbing the steep, narrow historical stairs to the second floor is highly difficult for seniors.
- Bordering the humid Mississippi levee and irrigation cuts, summer deer flies and mosquitoes are rampant; walking the expansive outdoor trails requires full armor of heavy repellent and sun protection.
- During off-peak weekday mornings, costumed docents can be short-handed; you often have to wait 20–30 minutes in the welcome hall to assemble a large enough group before entry is permitted.