Rosedown Plantation Historic Gardens in Louisiana

Rosedown Plantation, spanning 374 acres in St. Francisville, represents an untouched example of a plantation complex in Louisiana. It was founded in the 1830s by Daniel and Martha Turnbull.

The landmark includes: agricultural croplands, cattle pastures, horse stables, yards and pens for farm animals, homes for African slaves (where they had their own garden plots), a vegetable garden, a fruit orchard, and, of course, the master's house itself.

History of Rosedown Plantation

The gardens were Martha's passion. Her diary reveals insights into plant care, with her first entry in 1836 and her last in 1895, a year before her death at age 87. Many of the plants Martha planted have survived to this day. Here, one can find some of the earliest collections of camellias and azaleas in the South. Thanks to access to Martha's life history, the plantation reminds us of a place where ornamental gardening occupied a serious part of life for many people living in pre-war America.

Martha Turnbull died in 1896, leaving her daughter Sarah in possession. After Sarah's death in 1914, the plantation was inherited by her four unmarried daughters. In the 1920s, they opened the house to tourists interested in the remnants of a thriving cotton culture.

When Nina, the last surviving sister, died in 1955, the land passed to her nephews. They sold the plantation to Catherine and Milton Underwood, amateur horticulturists. The Underwoods spent $10 million on restoration to bring the plantation back to its former glory. In 1964 it was opened to the public, and in 2005 the plantation was declared a National Historic Landmark.

Features of the attraction

• Architecture
  The initial owners contracted carpenter Wendell Wright for the construction of the house in the Greek Revival style. Built from cypress and cedar, the two-story house features a gallery with smooth Doric columns and a balustrade. At the center of the house is an arched door frame with six horizontal panels distinguished by fluting, a layered entablature, and patterns applied to the glass.
• Interiors
  The main vestibule is adorned with wallpapers by Joseph Dufour from Paris. The rooms on the first floor include a living room, music room, study, pantry, and dining room. An elliptical staircase made of mahogany leads to the second floor, where the family bedrooms are located. In the north wing, there's a guest bedroom with an en suite bathroom. The house is furnished with imported goods from Philadelphia, New Orleans, and Europe. Much of the furniture has remained with the house for many years after the American Civil War, including a tapestry sewn by Martha Washington.

The beauty of the gardens

The beauty of the gardens at Rosedown Plantation precedes the construction of the house. Records from 1836 already document the purchase of camellias, azaleas, and other plants from William Prince in New York. The landscaped gardens are accessible through wooden gates and an alley that ends in a courtyard surrounded by oaks.

Eight marble Italian sculptures on brick pedestals line the alley. Originally there were twelve, but as the ownership of the plantation changed hands over time, the old statues were removed, and eight replicas close to the originals were installed in their place.

On both sides of the alley are baroque-style gardens with geometric greenery, as well as English-style gardens with winding paths that include rare plant varieties. The most sunny and open area of the gardens is the flower garden located southwest of the house. Planted with several varieties of roses, it combines rectangular shapes with curved pathways.

Adjacent to the main house are several auxiliary buildings, including the doctor's office, a hideaway, the dairyman's house, and a wooden barn. The kitchen, which was reconstructed near the house in 1956, is located at the back of the house. Visit this place rich in history and feel the era. Costumed tour guides will take you on a historical journey through plantation life in the 19th century.