** New Orleans: PHOTO journal @ Western Caribbean & NOLA post-cruise (Sept. 2012) **

[daliflor]

Now back on the road (again)!

 

 

 

 

We are heading to our last stop of the day: the visit of Oak Alley Plantation!

 

 

 

 

 

Louisiana’s two different cultures come to life with tours focusing on Anglo and Creole owners,

antebellum grandeur and rustic daily life.

 

 

 

 

St. Joseph Plantation, a Creole Plantation, is west of New Orleans, about 50 miles from the French Quarter,

on the west bank of the Mississippi River.

 

 

 

 

Many tours here, we were told, are guided by family members themselves.

 

 

 

 

Lovingly restored by volunteers consisting of family members and friends;

this plantation is just one way we have preserved the local heritage as well as the family.

 

 

[daliflor]

 

 

Getting closer and closer to our final destination:

 

 

 

 

And then... VOILA! (speachless)

 

 

 

 

 

 

[SeeJennyCruise]

These trees are magnificent!

 

 

 

 

[Guzzler]

This is the best post I have ever seen on this entire site.

 

Thank you.

[daliflor]

These trees are magnificent!

 

Indeed! Their own STORY is coming up soon!

 

This is the best post I have ever seen on this entire site.

 

Thank you.

 

I am humbled... and inspired to finish the thread in a positive note! Thank YOU sincerely!

[daliflor]

The driver had to stop the van for a moment so we can take in the BEAUTY of this fenomenal place...

 

 

 

 

Oak Alley is best know for its 20 gigantic Oak Trees from the river road to the house.

 

 

 

 

We were mesmerized and could hardly wait to get to the parking lot around the corner!

 

 

 

 

Oak Alley Plantation is west of New Orleans, about 55 miles from the French Quarter,

on the west bank of the Mississippi River.

 

(located at 3645 River Road - Vacherie, LA 70090)

 

 

 

 

The beautiful Oak Alley Plantation dates back to the 1840s!

 

 

 

 

We HAVE finally ARRIVED! The highlight of the trip - Louisiana's OAK ALLEY Plantation!

 

 

[daliflor]

 

 

After the driver dropped us by the entrance's gates, we had about 25 minutes or so to explore the area.

 

(before the formal plantation tour started @ the Big House)

 

 

 

 

There’s so much to see and do along the Mississippi River in New Orleans Plantation Country!

 

 

 

 

This area abounds in colonial history, ancient traditions, river commerce, rich cuisine,

music, folklore, the vestiges of human servitude and untamed swampy wilderness.

 

 

 

 

In addition to the mansion, at Oak Alley there is a restaurant, a cafe/Ice Cream Parlor,

a gift shop and a bed and breakfast on the grounds.

 

 

[daliflor]

 

 

 

 

Time to pick-up some original, local souvenirs @ Oak Alley Plantation Store!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Did I mention how delicious the Pecan Pie is here @ the Oak Alley? Mmmm, soo good!

 

[daliflor]

 

 

Time to taste one of the local ABITA beers (i.e. strawberry flavor)!

 

 

 

 

Located on the Mississippi River, Oak Alley Plantation has been called the "Grande Dame of the Great River Road".

 

The plantation home is situated in the most spectacular setting of any plantation in the South.

 

 

[daliflor]

 

 

 

 

Oak Alley Plantation and its Restaurant & Inn tastefully

blend the advantages of modern day services with the charm of authentic Old South surroundings.

 

 

 

 

[daliflor]

 

 

 

Take a long look over the land!

 

 

Don't you wish you could call Oak Alley home? : - ))

 

 

 

 

 

 

Heading to the "Big House" on Tuesday afternoon... beautiful weather!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Located on the Mississippi River, Oak Alley Plantation has

been called the "Grande Dame of the Great River Road".

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This sugar kettle is used as a water garden now:

 

 

 

[daliflor]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"We have baby oaks in back," the guide said.

 

 

"Those are only 150 years old."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[daliflor]

 

 

 

 

 

 

Open every day

except New Year's Day, Mardi Gras Tuesday,

Christmas Day, and Thanksgiving Day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oak Alley Plantation is

one of the most picturesque historical sites in the area!

 

 

 

 

 

 

[daliflor]

 

 

 

 

 

 

Most tourists are familiar with plantation homes in Louisiana and other southern states

that are constructed in the familiar Greek revival style

with their signature massive Greek columns gracing the front façade

or even surrounding the entire structure.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The largest and most striking of these Greek revival plantations is

Oak Alley in Vacherie, Louisiana.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oak Alley Plantation and one of its famous

antebellum-dressed tour guides!

 

 

 

[daliflor]

 

 

Touring the Oak Alley Plantation Mansion on a Tuesday afternoon (October 2, 2012)

 

 

 

 

 

 

The present mansion was built by George Swainy between 1837 and 1839 for Jacques Telesphore Roman.

 

Roman's father-in-law, Joseph Pilie, was an architect and probably designed the house.

 

 

[daliflor]

 

 

Leading from the river to the front of the plantation home is the driveway flanked by two rows of

huge live oaks creating perhaps the grandest entrance of any plantation in the South.

 

 

 

 

The Oak Alley Mansion has high ceilings, large windows, a symmetrical facade

and interior plan, and a second-floor gallery for viewing the surroundings.

 

 

 

 

 

Taking another peek at the beautiful oak trees! : - ))

 

 

[daliflor]

 

 

 

 

 

 

The original flooring was marble (since replaced by hardwood flooring), the roof was slate,

the exterior walls and columns were of brick painted white to resemble marble.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Catching another glimpse at the famous oak trees! : - ))

 

 

[daliflor]

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Oak Alley Mansion has high ceilings, large windows and a second-floor gallery for viewing the surroundings.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[daliflor]

 

 

 

 

 

 

Touring the Oak Alley Mansion on a Tuesday afternoon (October 2, 2012)

 

 

 

 

 

 

[daliflor]

 

 

The Bon Séjour ("good living") plantation, as it was originally named, was established to grow sugar cane.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oak Alley Plantation is named after its distinguishing feature - an alley or canopied path created by a double row of live

oaks about 800 feet (240 meters) long that was planted in the early 18th century, long before the present house was built.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Oak Alley runs between the mansion (aka "The Big House") and the Mississippi River.

 

 

[daliflor]

 

 

So much history!

 

In front of this door, the tour guide stopped for a minute for

the big finale...

 

 



 

 

Located on the Mississippi River,

Oak Alley Plantation has been called the "Grande Dame of the Great River Road".

 

 



 

 



 

 

"Ladies and gentlemen, I give you... the Oak Alley Plantation!"

 

(and she opened the door to... Paradise!)

 

 



 

 

Much of this antebellum opulence survives today as

majestic architectural treasures and testimony to a bygone era in American history.

 

 

[daliflor]

 

 

It's every bit as spectacular as you could ever imagine!

 

 

 

 

Twenty-eight (28) trees make a perfect lane leading to the river.

 

The trees existed before the house, as far back as the early 1700s.

 

 

 

 

In 1829, Jacques Telesphore Roman, a Creole sugar planter,

built the present house (with its 28 columns) for his wife.

 

 

 

 

Family portraits of former owners line the walls,

but the most stunning view is from the upstairs front gallery.

 

 

 

 

It's a grand view of the alley of ancient oaks as they march toward the river.

 

 

[daliflor]

 

 

 

 

 

 

"We have baby oaks in back," the guide says.

"They're only 150 years old."

 

 

 

 

Take a long look over the land!

 

Don't you wish you could call Oak Alley home? : - ))

 

 

 

 

As time has etched its marks through Louisiana, so have many glorious plantations been lost -- through war, fire, and neglect.

 

But many of the grandes dames still smooth their skirts by the levees of the Mississippi River,

and the old girls just love company.

 

 

[daliflor]

 

 

 

The grandes dames wait patiently for visitors to come calling.

 

 

Nestled close to the river, they drape their shoulders in Spanish moss.

 

 

Their numbers have fallen, yet many linger -

the plantations from New Orleans to Baton Rouge!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Located on the Mississippi River between the historic Louisiana cities of New Orleans and Baton Rouge,

 

 

Oak Alley Plantation has been called the "Grande Dame of the Great River Road".

 

 

 

 

 

 

We came to enjoy Oak Alley's beauty and couldn't stop dreaming of her rich past . . .

 

 

 

 

 

 

The quarter-mile canopy of giant live oak trees, believed to be nearly 300 years old,

 

 

forms an impressive avenue leading to the classic Greek-revival style antebellum home.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oak Alley Plantation and one of its famous antebellum-dressed tour guides:

 

 

 

[daliflor]

 

 

The most beautiful view of the Oak Alley surroundings is from the upstairs front gallery.

 

 

 

 

View of the Stewart Gardens

 

 

 

 

In 1925, Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Stewart purchased Oak Alley.

They were the 5th and last resident owners.

 

The Stewart's restoration of Oak Alley was one of the first along the Great River Road

and began the trend toward saving old plantation homes in this area.

 

 

 

 

The Stewarts recognized the historic and aesthetic value of Oak Alley and felt it was a privilege to live here,

an emotional guide told us.

 

 

 

 

The mansion as we saw it that Tuesday afternoon has been restored to its 19th century glory,

a noble tribute to those who left their indelible mark on this rich River Region.