Established in 1787 and listed on the national registry of historic places Destrehan plantation remains the oldest documented Plantation home in the lower Mississippi Valley. We invite you to travel from the French and Spanish colonial periods through the antebellum grandeur of the sugar barons, to the ravages of the Civil War and the rebirth of reconstruction. You will find yourself immersed in the rich history of Louisiana when French was the language and the white goal of sugar drove the economy. Family stories of those free and enslaved set against the fabric of history will intrigue every visitor to this site.
The Plantation’s history consist of many notable people and events. The Plantation serve as a home to Marie Celeste Robin de logny and her husband Jean Noel Destrehan. The most successful sugar producer in Saint Charles Parish And one of the driving forces in Louisiana statehood. The Plantation exhibits and original documents signed by President Thomas Jefferson and secretary of state James Madison appointing Jean Noel to the New Orleans territorial Council responsible for creating Louisiana’s civil law of government. Destrehan plantation was the site where one of the three trials took place following the 1811 slave revolt, One of the largest slave revolts in US history led by Charles Deslondes. During the Civil War the union army seized the plantation and established the Rost home colonies were newly freed slaves learned trades enabling them to transition into a life of freedom.
Located on the historic River Road this antebellum home with its lush green grounds and moss draped Live Oak’s watches over the banks of the Mississippi river just minutes away from New Orleans. In 2010 this site received a travel and tourism Louey award Naming it the 2010 Louisiana attraction of the year.
Pick-up begins at 8:15am with a short 30 minute ride to Destrehan Plantation. The driver goes hotel to hotel for the pick-up service. We ask that you allow us up to 30 minutes for the pick-up which will be curbside of your hotel. While taking the Destrehan Plantation tour, you will be viewing the oldest standing Plantation in the Mississippi Valley that is surrounded by majestic, 300 year old Oak Trees. The house has been beautifully restored to its original glory. The Destrehan Plantation house tour is approximately 1 hour and is given by professional tour guides that will enlighten and entertain you on this trip through history. A Slave Quarter museum is a part of your tour of the plantation grounds. That will give you 20 minutes after the tour to walk around the grounds and take some pictures. We will depart 11:15am And for the grand finale, its off to Cajun country for a swamp tour
The Airboat Tour leaves the dock at about 12:10 pm and returns about 1:50 pm. On this tour, you will enjoy a fully narrated swamp tour by one of our local captains in the comfort of an Airboat. You will enjoy close encounters with swamp life as you learn about what it is like to live in the Louisiana swamps. You will return to your hotel around 2:45 pm depending on traffic.
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