Drestrehan Plantation
I slept pretty well depite the fact that I could here, traffic on the freeway, planes taking off, train horns and boat horns on the Mississippi. Things being relative, it was much quieter here than at the Shreveport KOA the previous two nights.
I was still exhausted from all the driving and walking over the past two days. I had planned to ride my bike up the levy 9 miles to Drestrehan Planation on the Mississippi. The woman who greeted me last night had described the ride and it seemed pretty easy and doable. I just didn’t have energy today.
My coffee had the opposite effect on me. Around 1:00 pm, I found a restaurant that served nice salads. I noticed that in the hour I was at the restaurant, only one other male came in. I guess only woman in salad in Louisiana.
I was fascinated by the raised train tracks near the restaurant. The train was just sitting there perched above everything. The cars were carrying Sodium Hydroxide which I knew was poisonous if there is direct human contact. My mind wondered thinking of all the potential catastrophic accidents that could take place.
Drestrehan Plantation
Destrehan Plantation is a historic landmark located near New Orleans. The plantation was built in 1787 and was originally owned by the Destrehan family until the mid-19th century. The plantation was a large-scale operation that relied heavily on slave labor to initially produce indigo which was shipped to France to be used in making military uniforms. Later the plantation was one of the first to begin successfully growing sugarcane in the area. Cotton came later. Wikipedia does a nice job outlining the ownership of the property which at one point was owned by American Oil Company that used it as a local office and helped with the initial renovation and upkeep. After the company left, the property fell into disrepair for many years.
The Destrehan Plantation was owned by the Destrehan family for over a century. The family was originally from France and had settled in Louisiana during the early 18th century. Jean Noel Destrehan, the patriarch of the family, purchased the land in 1787 and began building the plantation shortly after. The Destrehan family was one of the wealthiest and most prominent families in the region, and the plantation was a symbol of their social status.
However, the plantation changed hands several times after the Destrehan family. In the mid-19th century, the plantation was sold to Pierre Adolphe Rost, who expanded the property and added several new buildings. Rost was also a wealthy planter and relied on slave labor to operate the plantation. However, his ownership was short-lived, as the plantation was sold again in 1862 to Union Army General Benjamin Butler during the Civil War.
After the war, the plantation was returned to the Rost family, but they struggled to maintain the property due to financial difficulties. In 1910, the plantation was sold to the Marmillion family, who owned it for several decades. The plantation changed hands several more times over the years, with various owners making changes and additions to the property.
Despite the changes in ownership, the plantation remained an important part of Louisiana's history and culture. The owners of the plantation were influential members of society who played a significant role in shaping the region's economy and politics. Today, the plantation is a testament to their legacy, as well as the legacy of the slaves who worked there.
Slavery
During its peak, the plantation was home to more than 200 slaves who were responsible for cultivating and harvesting the crops. The slaves worked long hours under harsh conditions, with little to no pay or benefits. Despite their immense contribution to the success of the plantation, the slaves were treated as property and were often subjected to brutal treatment by their owners.
The plantation was known for its production of sugarcane, which was a highly profitable crop at the time. The sugarcane was harvested by the slaves and then processed in the plantation's sugar mill. The plantation also grew cotton, which was another valuable commodity during the 19th century.
After the Civil War, slavery was abolished in the United States, and the Destrehan family was forced to adapt to a new way of life. The plantation was turned into a working farm, and the family began to focus on other crops such as soybeans and corn. The former slaves were granted their freedom, but many continued to work on the plantation as sharecroppers. Sharecropping was a system where tenants would work the land and give a portion of their crops to the landowner in exchange for housing and supplies.
The various owners of the plantation kept maticulous records of the property, including slave ownership. Today, the plantation is the site of the Enslaved Registry, which has been used by people to trace their families history.
During the tour, we learned that, Henry Ford, purchased Spanish moss from the area and used it as a seat stuffing. The moss was packaged in oak boxes and the wood was used in various parts of automobiles.
The Grounds
There were other buildings and artifacts on the property that I toured after the initial tour.
The Destrehan Plantation is a popular tourist attraction and a testament to the rich history of Louisiana. Visitors can tour the plantation and learn about the lives of the slaves who worked there, as well as the family who owned it. The plantation also hosts events and educational programs that promote the understanding and appreciation of the state's unique cultural heritage.
It was 5:30 pm and a few of us were still lingering. We were told that the site closed at 5:00 pm. I found my way to the car and drove to the levy and took some photos. I then spent some time driving around the area taking photos of refineries, grain silos, and loading docks. We were told that the Mississippi used overflow centuries ago and the water level would hit 3 feet. Today, the water comes up the levy 17 feet.
I made it back to the campsite at 8:00 pm and made dinner before watching a basketball game.