The
History of Destrehan Plantation
In 1787, Robin deLogny entered into a contract with Charles, a
free mulatto, to build a French Colonial style plantation house.
It took three years to build the house, everything being hewn
and sanded by hand. deLogny only lived in the house for 2 years
before his death in 1792. In 1810, Robin's daughter Celeste and
husband Jean Noel d'Estrehan purchased the plantation, adding
twin wings to accommodate 14 children. Jean Noel died in 1823,
his wife died a year later. Daughters of the d'Estrehan family
lived in the house through the following years. In 1840, owner
Louise and husband Judge Pierre Rost remodeled the house to Greek
Revival.
In
1861, while the Rost family was in Europe, the Union Army seized
the house and established the Rost Home Colony. Operating under
control of the Freedman's Bureau, newly freed slaves learned trades.
After
the Civil War ended, the house was returned to Rost, who lived
there until his death in 1868. His widow Louise died in 1877,
son Emile purchased the property. In 1910, family ownership ended
when it was sold to the Destrehan Planting and Manufacturing Company.
Through the years, ownership changed many times.
For
over 12 years the house sat abandoned. Vandals broke in and stole
everything of value. Because of legends of hidden treasurer, interior
walls were ripped out. The house was in jeopardy of being totally
destroyed. Local citizens formed the River Road Historical Society
to save the house. In 1971, the house and 4 acres of ground were
deeded to the Society. Since that time the house has been completely
restored and filled with a fine collection of early to mid-19th
century furnishings and decorative arts, including Louisiana armoires,
tables, desks, and items once belonging to Destrehan family members.
The
house museum open for tours daily, features docents dressed in
historically accurate period costumes. Demonstrations of period
crafts such as candle making, dyeing with indigo, calligraphy
and early construction techniques give the visitors a glimpse
of the talents needed in the daily workings of a plantation.
The
Destrehan Plantation Store offers visitors a variety of reproduction
period antiques and collectibles. The annual Fall Festival, held
the second full weekend in November is the primary fund raising
event of the Society. Revenue from the event, now in its 30th
year, has funded restoration and the expansion of the interpretative
site.
Future
plans for the site include acquisitions of slave quarters and
other out buildings. The River Road Historical Society continues
to strive for its mission: the preservation and interpretation
of Destrehan Plantation and other historical sites along the River
Road in Louisiana for present and future generations
Credit: Destrehan Plantation / River Road
Historical Society
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