Slowly we are nearing the end of Highlights of the Mississippi Cruise...
Tuesday, July 11, we did depart in Baton Rouge at 2:00 AM and after breakfast at 8:30 AM we could get off and walk just across the road to Oak Alley Plantation
Oak Alley Plantation had been such a long time dream!
Impressive Greek Revival antebellum home.
Also here, a 13-foot deep veranda encircles the entire house for providing shade for the entire day.
Much needed in the hot and humid Deep South.
As Southern Lady magazine wrote in March-April of 2009:
THE GRAND DAME OF THE Great River Road
These two pictures should be seen side by side of course!
Oh, that alley of majestic Live Oaks!
You can almost see the Mississippi river in the end...
"The serenity and quietness of this place is like nowhere else on earth."
Jacques Telesphore Roman and his wife, Celina, spared no expenses when they bult on this land in the late 1830s. The house took two years to complete and featured such details as 28 solid brick columns 8 feet in circumference, 16-inch-thick walls, and a 13 foot-deep veranda that kept the house shaded most of the day--a decided advantage in the Deep South heat.
12.5 foot-ceilings add to the grandeur and beauty.
All walls are of solid brick, approximately 16 inches thick.
All windows and doors face one another for cross ventilation!
For an interesting video of the tour click: Oak Alley Plantation Tour.
Again, for doing the tour and wanting to see the rest, this time frame was not quite enough!
Oh, we did have to leave ONCE a person behind that stayed in the gift shop at one of the plantations and the captain announced that we had to depart without him.
Sad... He got transport by taxi and was put up in a hotel and met with us at the next port.
Scary too! Especially if the person would have medications on the boat for the evening and morning...
When we arrived at the House I took this photo of the Oak Alley and in the far distance there are two ladies in period costumes.
Once more in a wider view...
Every person should have a chance to BE here; if only ONCE!
If only those majestic 300 year old live oak trees could talk.
This photo shows you the THICK inside walls!
Yes, they are made of approx. 16" of solid brick!
That keeps the building cool too.
Antique and ORIGINAL Rosewood Cradle of Oak Alley Plantation!
One really does step back in time...
One only can be in awe by such a Ceiling Medallion...
The same bedroom and you see here a fainting couch next to the rosewood cradle.
Oak Alley as seen from the veranda down...
Oak Alley from the veranda in a wider view.
Husband Pieter admiring the view of the gardens, from this 13-foot wide veranda.
Oak Alley has this 13-foot wide veranda encircling the entire house!
Taking care of shade for the entire day...
Admiring those lush Crepe Myrtle trees (Lagerstroemia) in the garden...
Our most expensive trees that we have came from a Louisiana nursery and we learned this day WHY this probably is the best state for growing anything!
White blooming Crepe Myrtle tree to the left and in the center a lush Southern Magnolia.
What a lush garden!
More white blooming Crepe Myrtle trees.
There was so much more to explore, like this Confederate Commanding Officer's tent...
A little insight into the Civil War (1861 to 1865) and its impact on Louisiana and Oak Alley.
Headquarters of Lieutenant General Richard Taylor, Commanding.
Lieutenant General Richard Taylor was a son of President Zachary Taylor and the brother-in-law of Jefferson Davis. He owned a large sugar plantation and was a Louisiana senator.
Husband Pieter, having served himself in the Dutch army found this quite interesting to peak into army life back then.
Simple life back then...
This cast iron sugar kettle we saw at the Sugarcane Theater of Oak Alley.
It was used to heat, clarify and evaporate the cane juice over a wood burning furnace.
Walking the grounds, to the left you see again blooming Crepe Myrtles.
Vertical photo of entrance to Oak Alley, the other I used as opening photo above.
Walking back now to our boat, one more time turning around for this majestic live oak alley!
A quarter of a mile alley of 300 year old Quercus virginiana 'Live Oaks'.
Now turning around and you can see the America on the Mississippi river behind the dike.
She is being supplied by a fresh produce truck, right here at Oak Alley.
Those that couldn't walk are being transported on golf carts, but both of us manage the walk up to the boat.
Returning back in time; from the old era and also in time for a tour of the Pilot House Tour on our cruise ship.
Back on the dike, for getting to our cruise ship and returning from a visit back in time.
Such a memorable sugar cane plantation!
Oak Alley is really the Grande Dame of the Great River Road!
Would have loved to linger longer here at Oak Alley!
Climbing up higher on the dike...
Behind this tall dike, awaits our America cruise ship, on the Mississippi river.
Here you can see on a Google map where Oak Alley Plantation is at and where the ship was docked.
Oak Alley overview
Oak Alley Plantation - Vacherie, Louisiana
Oak Alley Plantation Highlights
Oak Alley Plantation Highlights
Visitor Guide & Map of Oak Alley Plantation
Oak Alley Plantation Productions
Hope you enjoyed this Grande Dame!
Here is a good video for a visit: Oak Alley: See Historic Grounds and Big House! - YouTube
Thank you for your visit and stay tuned for Pilot House Tour and Upper Deck
Impressive Greek Revival antebellum home.
Also here, a 13-foot deep veranda encircles the entire house for providing shade for the entire day.
Much needed in the hot and humid Deep South.
THE GRAND DAME OF THE Great River Road
Oh, that alley of majestic Live Oaks!
You can almost see the Mississippi river in the end...
Jacques Telesphore Roman and his wife, Celina, spared no expenses when they bult on this land in the late 1830s. The house took two years to complete and featured such details as 28 solid brick columns 8 feet in circumference, 16-inch-thick walls, and a 13 foot-deep veranda that kept the house shaded most of the day--a decided advantage in the Deep South heat.
All walls are of solid brick, approximately 16 inches thick.
All windows and doors face one another for cross ventilation!
For an interesting video of the tour click: Oak Alley Plantation Tour.
Oh, we did have to leave ONCE a person behind that stayed in the gift shop at one of the plantations and the captain announced that we had to depart without him.
Sad... He got transport by taxi and was put up in a hotel and met with us at the next port.
Scary too! Especially if the person would have medications on the boat for the evening and morning...
Every person should have a chance to BE here; if only ONCE!
If only those majestic 300 year old live oak trees could talk.
Yes, they are made of approx. 16" of solid brick!
That keeps the building cool too.
One really does step back in time...
Taking care of shade for the entire day...
Our most expensive trees that we have came from a Louisiana nursery and we learned this day WHY this probably is the best state for growing anything!
More white blooming Crepe Myrtle trees.
A little insight into the Civil War (1861 to 1865) and its impact on Louisiana and Oak Alley.
Lieutenant General Richard Taylor was a son of President Zachary Taylor and the brother-in-law of Jefferson Davis. He owned a large sugar plantation and was a Louisiana senator.
Husband Pieter, having served himself in the Dutch army found this quite interesting to peak into army life back then.
It was used to heat, clarify and evaporate the cane juice over a wood burning furnace.
A quarter of a mile alley of 300 year old Quercus virginiana 'Live Oaks'.
She is being supplied by a fresh produce truck, right here at Oak Alley.
Those that couldn't walk are being transported on golf carts, but both of us manage the walk up to the boat.
Such a memorable sugar cane plantation!
Oak Alley is really the Grande Dame of the Great River Road!
Here is a good video for a visit: Oak Alley: See Historic Grounds and Big House! - YouTube
Thank you for your visit and stay tuned for Pilot House Tour and Upper Deck
Related links:
Baton Rouge and Rosedown Plantation, Louisiana | previous post by me
Houmas House the Sugar Palace in Darrow, Louisiana | previous post by me
Houmas House the Sugar Palace in Darrow, Louisiana | previous post by me
Aboard the America Cruising on the Mississippi River | previous post by me
Our Long Awaited Mississippi River Cruise | previous post by me
Our Long Awaited Mississippi River Cruise | previous post by me
The Roosevelt New Orleans with View of Mississippi and French Quarter + New Orleans Cooking School | previous post by me
7th North American Mushroom Conference at The Roosevelt in New Orleans | previous post by me
Hello Mariette, It's a good thing that the long alley of oaks was planted, otherwise the river might have swallowed up the plantations through erosion and shifting, as happened with many other houses.
ReplyDeleteYou must have especially enjoyed seeing all the huge live oaks in Louisiana, knowing how well you can compete in the rare live oak department with your Golden Live Oak specimen!
--Jim
Dearest Jim,
DeleteWell, the location of Oak Alley is probably enough sheltered by that tall dyke along the Mississippi. But it no doubt has been devastating for so many houses along its path.
Yes, we now understand the Louisiana nursery secret for growing the very best Live Oaks species. That's where our Golden Live Oak came from and so far it is doing well.
Hugs,
Mariette
Liebe Mariette,
ReplyDeleteherzlichen Dank für deinen wunderschönen Reisebericht. Er schenkt Freude.
Sonnige Sonntagsgrüße
Elisabeth
Liebe Elisabeth,
DeleteJa danke und gerne! Ich hoffe ihr genießt mit.
Lieber Gruß,
Mariette
A spectacular property Mariette with such a wonderful wrap-around veranda. The 300 year old Oak alley walk is very impressive too. I love to walk under and photographing ancient trees planted to form a natural canopy.
ReplyDeleteDearest Rosemary,
DeleteThis was for both of us the most impressive walking alley under those giants of live oak trees!
Talking about such a wrap around veranda, one could easily seat people for a reception in large scale...
Hugs,
Mariette
These are simply beautiful shots! I would so love to be sitting on that veranda right now!
ReplyDeleteDearest Janey,
DeleteIndeed, for sipping a tea in all calmness...
Hugs,
Mariette
Beautiful pictures of the sugar plantation.. I love specially the interior of the mansion, it gives the insight of the bygone era.. loving your cruise...waiting for the next post.. :)
ReplyDeleteDearest Krishna,
DeleteYes indeed, this entire cruise was constantly a step way back in time.
Very educational for all of us.
Glad you enjoy it.
Hugs,
Mariette
Hello dear Mariette!
ReplyDeleteGreat post and gorgeous pictures from your visit to this beautiful place!
I really enjoyed reading all those informations and seeing the old Oak trees and the beautiful green gardens!
The building is so impressive!
Thank you for sharing!
Wishing you a lovely new week!Hugs!❤️
Dimi...
Dearest Dimi,
DeleteIt was our highlight of the trip I think, so enormous to walk there and thinking about 300 years and lots of people that passed by...
Hugs,
Mariette
How wonderful trees! Greetings
ReplyDeleteDearest Anne,
DeleteYes they are and they rarely ever see snow...
Hugs,
Mariette
Amazing house and fabulous trees. Love the ceiling rosettes and that wooden baby cradle is a work of art. Thanks for showing us around this beautiful property Mariette.
ReplyDeleteDearest Sami,
DeleteIt sure is fabulous and that rose wood baby cradle is spectacular.
We once saw such a rose tree in Mexico City, hard to imagine for us that they can use its wood from our 'tiny' rose bushes but they do grow big!
Hugs,
Mariette
The house impresses with its look and ingenuity. The view from the tree is wonderful, and the oak alley impresses. This trip, it was certainly a wonderful time for you. Regards.
ReplyDeleteDearest Giga,
DeleteIt sure was a wonderful time, we enjoyed every moment of it and are so thankful for having been able to do so together!
Hugs,
Mariette
Gorgous maison and grounds, Mariette. You are a great travel agent. Now I want to go!
ReplyDeleteDearest Debra,
DeleteWell, I'm sure no travel agent but for both of us, to preserve the story and the moments lived and shared, it is important!
You should go there once...
Hugs,
Mariette
This looks such a beautiful place. I love the view of ally of oaks. Oh, I'm sure if they could talk, those oak trees would have a lot to say :-)
ReplyDeleteToo bad the ship had to leave a passenger behind, but glad he could catch up later. Limited time is the downside of tour, but you get a reason to come back :-)
Dearest Tamago,
DeleteYes, it was an almost magical place where one could dwell around for days...
Wish trees could tell their stories too; they've lived through a lot and through lots of hurricanes too.
It was sad that a male passenger got left behind indeed.
Guess there never will be enough time for trying to see it all.
Both of us have just come back from our 3rd trip to New Orleans, not to the plantations but French Quarter.
Hugs,
Mariette
I LOVE this Mariette! The pictures, each and every one plus your "narrative" though written. I have spent many many times in LA. mostly in New Orleans but with day trip out here and there. I got to go to severalPlantations but not this gem you and your husband got to. I wish I had. Beautiful. I love seeing things in times gone by especially in the deep South. xx
ReplyDeleteDearest Katie Isabella,
DeleteThis was indeed a gem of a plantation and we're so glad we could visit here.
As you wrote this comment, we were in the air, on our flight back from our 3rd visit to New Orleans.
This is it, we did only French Quarter this time as the bus tour after this cruise, did not cover the history, very disappointing!
Hugs,
Mariette
Hola, Mariette! Las fotos e imagenes me transportan en el tiempo...un abrazo! Rose M.
ReplyDeleteDearest Rose M,
DeleteIndeed we all got transported back in time and it was a joy to do so!
Hugs,
Mariette
I hope these day was alright just test of my time?
ReplyDeleteI hope you had beautiful time with you! I will be back again!
Michiko
Dearest Michiko,
DeleteOh, I will have to catch up on a lot as we just got back home from New Orleans on Tuesday...
Hugs,
Mariette
wow! was für eine imposante Eichen-Allee, danke fürs Zeigen, liebe Mariette. Auch das Haus ist ein Prachtgebäude. Wenn sie erzählen könnten, was sich in diesen Jahren ereignet hat...
ReplyDeleteHier ist es immer noch so kalt und ich danke dir für die Wärme, die Du mir geschickt hast ;-)))
Ich mache jetzt Osterferien, wünsche Dir und Pieter eine schöne Zeit und schicke viele, liebe Grüße ins Wochenende.
Alles Liebe von Traudi.♥
Liebe Traudi,
DeleteDanke für deinen Kommentar hier.
Ja, die Wärme sollte man sich wirklich teilen können da es auch ab und zu Zuviel sein kann.
Schöne Osterferien und schönes Wochenende mit deinem Hall und alles Liebe,
Mariette
Hello querida Mariette!
DeleteEstive algum tempo ausente do mundo dos blogs. Mudei de cidade, viajei e cuidei de outros assuntos que necessitavam de ações no mundo real.
Venho para uma visita ao seu blog e encontro fotos espetaculares de um lindo jardim, exuberantes árvores e uma espetacular varanda com sua vista.
Um belo passeio, tenho certeza.
Querida Maria Glória,
DeleteMuito obrigado por parar por aqui e sim, a vida às vezes nos faz tendem a coisas muito mais importantes do que Blogs. Espero que você está fazendo bem, e assim fazer seus entes queridos.
Abraços,
Mariette