Cane River Creole National Historic Site, Louisiana

This morning we left bright and early to get to the Oakland Plantation on Cane River.

This is where the visitor's center is for the Cane River Creole National Historic Park is located.

Visitor's Center in the Old Store

The park houses two plantations, Oakland and Magnolia.  Magnolia is in a different location near Oakland.

Due to timing, we only toured Oakland Plantation and Cierra wasn't feeling great today.

Part of the main house showing the foundation

Back side of the House

When we got to the visitor's center, there was no one there to greet us initially.  The ranger finally came about 8:20 a.m. but no worried because the junior ranger stuff was all waiting on a table and the kids started their books.  They also have trading cards at this house.  So fun!

Grandpa teaching Hunter about plantation life.

Cierra was a bit under the weather.

We also toured the general store that the slaves would have used their tokens for to "purchase" supplies.  Items in the store now date up into th 1950's. Every thing in the store is from the home!

General Store

General Store

General Store

General Store

General Store

When the ranger came, he took us on a private tour of the plantation house owned originally by the Prud'Homme family...a typical Quebec family surname.  The house was built on pillar foundation for air flow and the oaks that lined the home were strategically placed to provide a send of air conditioning.  The doors and windows also were place in such a way to allow air flow from the heat and humidity of the Louisiana coast.  The house is located just off the Cane River.

Walking over to the main house 

Raised elevatioin

I loved the old plank floors!

The beautiful garden

...and the massive old oak trees!

He also taught that the home originated in 1820 although the family was around a bit before that. Generations of Prud'Homme's lived in the home and told of how the home changed and evolved over time.  Every single item in the home is original to the house from one era to another.

Here are photos of the interior.

The Parlor

The Parlor

The Parlor looking into the Dining Room

The Girls Bedroom

The Parents Room

Original Quilt

The Parents Room

The Dining Room

The Old Music Box - the original box is in the attic!

Dining Room

Dining Room

Our fun ranger! He was awesome!

ROUNDED Glass Water Bottle.
This is how they were made before people figured out how to square the bottom.

Dining Room

Boys Bedroom

Listening intently about the differences between boys and girls during the 1800s in the south.

Boys Table

Toys

Guest Room

Kitchenette and Pantry

Newer kitchen from the 1950's.  They enclosed the porch.

Kitchen

Kitchen

Leaving the House

I especially loved the kitchen built in the 1950's.  It reminded me of life when I was a girl.

I really enjoyed all the outbuildings as well.

Then we went back to the visitor's center and finished up our junior ranger badges.

We had a really fun time (although Cierra looks miserable) and we learned a great deal about this home, the plantation right along the Cane River.  I would highly recommend it and a great form of history.

Cane River