Oak Alley Plantation tour
- State:Louisiana
- Tour type:Museums, Sightseeing
- Departure:Новый Орлеан
Excursions in the USA
Oak Alley Plantation tour
Excursion to the mysterious Oak Alley plantation in New Orleans
History and features of the plantation
History and features of the plantation
- Oak Alley Plantation is a house filled with history, ghosts and beauty. The oldest oaks date back to the late 17th century. The plantation was built a century later — in 1837, on the model of the mansion in the style of the Greek Renaissance.
- Originally, the plantation was called Bon Sejour, and its owner, Jacques Thelesfort Roman III, was a very rich sugar cane grower. After the family lost the house during the Civil War, the subsequent owners did not maintain the property as they should.
- In 1925, Andrew and Josephine Stuart purchased property, immediately saw its potential and appreciated the rich history. They began a plantation restoration project that would set the trend for the restoration of mansions throughout the south.
- Only in 1998, a 25-acre plantation will open to tourists.
The mansion has a square layout, organized around the central hall. The rooms have high ceilings and large windows. The exterior is a freestanding colonnade of 28 Doric columns, which correspond to 28 oaks in the alley.
The 16-inch brick walls are plastered on the outside and painted white, and the inside is plastered. The roof is made of slate and originally had four windows, one on each side.
During the restoration in the 1920s, rooms from the ground floor were divided and adapted as a kitchen. The staircase was moved from the southwest corner to the central hall, and the black and white marble floors were replaced with wooden ones.
Riddles and mysticism
Riddles and mysticism
- It is often said that ghosts or spirits linger when they have unfinished business in their lives. If this is true, then Oak Alley should be a well-known meeting place for the deceased.
- Louise, daughter of Jacques and Josephine, cut her leg, fleeing the groom during a party in the mansion. This cut will develop gangrene and will require that it have a leg amputated. This devastated Louise, since someone in the upper class could not have a disability of this magnitude. She was very upset about her position and devoted her life to serving the Lord, joining the monastery. Before her death, she will return to the Oak Alley, which will be her last refuge.
- There were reports that late at night workers often saw the figure of a woman all over the mansion. This lady is said to be either Josephine or Louise. Guides also report that they saw a figure of a man in a gray suit and riding boots. Perhaps it was Jacques Roman III wandering around the house.
Employees often reported seeing a woman sitting on the edge of a bed in her favorite room. After being asked to describe a woman, it was perfect for Mrs. Stewart. Whether these ghosts are in fact former inhabitants of this house or not is unknown, but it is curious that the descriptions correspond to their profiles.
The plantation was also investigated by numerous popular and respected paranormal research groups. Most of the reported “activity” came from plantation staff, claiming that they felt an eerie presence around them while working the night shift. Whether this is just a marketing gimmick is not clear, but let's not forget that the plantation still remains an impressive and atmospheric place.
What to look at
What to look at
- Landscape
- Before entering the mansion, stroll through the grounds and admire the breathtaking scenery. Be sure to look at the garden that has been blooming since the 1920s, tall oaks and think about how life has changed since then.
- Mansion
- The mansion, as well as many outbuildings — this is an incredible sight! Take a tour of the beautiful home in the style of the Greek Revival.
- Plantation artifacts
- The plantation staff and historians have made tremendous efforts to assemble a comprehensive and authentic collection of artifacts characteristic of the local history. Most of the collection is works of art, books and paintings of Josephine Stewart herself. One of her favorite tea sets, often used to serve many guests visiting the Oak Alley, is also on display.
Other cultural artifacts — bricks found during excavations, fragments of handmade pottery and other small things will help guests to get an idea of what life of the people who worked there could be like.
Visit Oak Alley with American Butler — we will organize a tour for you at any time!
Terms and cost
Terms and cost
- Tour cost from $400 ($80 / hour);
- the minimum cost of the tour is calculated for a group of up to 3 people, the surcharge for each additional passenger is $80;
- the duration of the tour is 3-4 hours;
- travel time is calculated taking into account the road and traffic jams on a given route, but not less than the specified time. The cost of each additional hour is $80;
- tickets to museums and a hotel room for the guide are paid additionally;
- for a comfortable trip, we recommend a maximum of 5 people in the car;
- tipping the guide is always welcome, but not required and can be left by you if you wish;
- the cost of the tour may vary depending on the season.
