When you think of antebellum plantations you probably picture what Oak Alley looks like now. When it was built it didn't look like that. It went through a transformation when it was purchased in the 20th century by its new owner. All the columns were added!
From the parking lot you approach the house from the back.
A docent dressed in period costume welcomes you and directs you around to the front.
The front looks out through this alley of Virginia live oak trees that are 300 years old.
"Sometime in the early 1700s an unknown settler planted an alley of 28 oaks in two equal rows spaced 80 feet apart leading to the river." (from Oak Alley brochure)
The river is the Mississippi. At the end of the alley is a flood control levee.
I zoomed in on this ship passing on the river with only the top structure visible.
Every one of those windows is really a door to allow for air circulation. It's a hot place in the summer.
This plantation has figured in quite a few movies and soap operas.
Live oaks have a life span of 600 years so these trees are just middle aged.
The plantations of Louisiana between the capital, Baton Rouge and New Orleans grow sugar cane still. When we pulled into the parking area for Oak Alley we were surrounded by fields in cultivation. I had to ask what was growing and the answer was sugar cane.
More on Oak Alley and its history in the next post.
Joining Tuesday Treasures.
8 comments:
What wonderful looking trees - strange to think that they have so long left to live.
Cheers - Stewart M - New Delhi, India (!)
Happy Valentine's Day to you and your loved ones. We are enjoying this special day in Arkansas at our special little cabin on the mountain!
We love Oak Alley and all of the plantations in that area.
Hugs,
Betsy
Great photos of a famous place! Reminds me about books of Penelope Williamson...
Happy Valentine's Day
Homes like this are what stories are made of, just beautiful. Thanks Marcia for sharing this treasure, I hope to see you back again soon.
your oaks are different from our in Europe but so great
Oh, that is a gorgeous place, but oh, those oaks are magnificent!
I think every plantation had an avenue of oaks. They certainly did here in South Carolina, and you can always tell where an old plantation stood until it was burned by General Sherman's men after the Civil War. That is a beautifully preserved plantation house you visited.
I love the look of this plantation house. The columns added quite a lot of character. Interesting that they were added so long after the house was built.
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