Sadly, the history of their sizable slave populations is often ignored. Nevertheless, the scenic grounds and handsome mansions offers a potent reminder of the legacy of King Cotton. Full or part-day tours can be arranged from most hostels and hotels in New Orleans. Interstate 10 offers the quickest access to the east bank levee roads. Parallel to I-10, slower Hwy 61 passes through suburbs and intersects rural crossroads.
Ferries still outnumber bridges across the river.
The focus of this museum, contrary to the opulent images presented at many plantation homes, is on everyday life in the 19th century. Operated by Louisiana State University on the former Windrush Plantation near Baton Rouge, its grounds showcase a matchless collection of rural buildings typically found on sugar plantations, including slave cottages, a commissary and shotgun house, an overseer's house, a cane grinder and a sugar house with a 'Jamaica train' of open kettles. Special demonstrations like weaving or blacksmithing are conducted on the first Saturday of the month. We encourage you to verify any critical information with the relevant authorities before you travel. This includes information on visa requirements, health and safety, customs, and transportation.