Plantation alley is located on the Mississippi River North of New Orleans. On both sides of the river were large sugar cane farms (plantations down here), where the owners built beautiful mansions for themselves, while their slaves, who worked the fields, lived in shanty poverty. Many of the estates have been destroyed either by fire or the floods of “Old Man River”. Most of the existing ones have been restored and offer guided tours.
The first plantation of the West Bank was Laura. This is a Creole plantation built in 1805. The guided tours are based on the Memories of Laura Locoul, who had lived there and in the French Quarter. The tales of Br’er Rabbit were stories told in the slave quarters on this plantation and later written down for posterity.
Next is the most photographed plantation of the all, Oak Alley. Twenty-eight majestic oak trees line the entrance way to the mansion. River road passes by it and a levee has been built to control the river from flooding. The view from the river in the 1800s must have been magnificent. It is even spectacular today. I have been told that Hurricane Katrina destroyed some of these stately oaks.