Houmas House Plantation Louisiana
Frequently Asked Questions
At the foot of the levee on the Mississippi, between New Orleans and Baton Rouge. The estate is a few minutes' walk once you cross the grassy levee.
A nineteenth-century plantation house on Louisiana's River Road, surrounded by oaks and gardens. It is toured room by room with guides, often in period dress.
The guided house tour, then the gardens at your own pace. Half a day is ample: this is an estate call, with no village or shops nearby.
John Burnside, an Irish businessman who bought the property in the mid nineteenth century and turned it into one of Louisiana's largest sugar operations. His fortune rested on the forced labour of enslaved people.
Yes, but it is primarily a house tour, focused on furnishings, architecture and the owning families. If the history of slavery is your priority, other River Road plantations devote most of their tour to it.
Yes, freely. About fifteen hectares of gardens surround the house: boxwood walks, ponds, fountains and century-old oaks. It is often what visitors remember most.
Yes. The estate has several restaurants and a bar set in the old outbuildings, serving Louisiana cooking. It is a good way to extend the stop.
No. This is an estate call on the riverbank, with no town centre or shops within walking distance. Everything to do is on the property.
Autumn through spring. The gardens are superb in spring and the air stays breathable; a Louisiana summer is crushing in heat and humidity, especially on the unshaded walks.
Moderately. The gardens offer space, but the guided house tour is long and centred on furnishings and history: it appeals more to adults.
