Destrehan Plantation

23 Miles from the Hotel Monteleone
13034 River Road
Destrehan, Louisiana 70047
Phone: (985) 764-9315 (Local from New Orleans)
Fax: (985) 725-1929
1-877-453-2095 (Toll Free)
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Hours of Operation:
Open for tours 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, except on major holidays.

Directions:
Head southwest on Royal St toward Iberville St | Continue onto St Charles Ave | Turn right at Poydras St | Merge onto I-10 W via the ramp on the left to Baton Rouge | Take exit 220 to merge onto I-310 S toward Boutte/Houma | Take exit 6 to merge onto LA-48 W/River Rd | Destination will be on the right
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Parking:
On site

The Plantation was built in 1790 for the price of one brute Negro, a cow and her calf . . . fifty quarts of rice in chaff, fifty quarts of corn in husks and one hundred piastres, which means dollars. The original owner died after only living in the home for less than two years. His son-in-law acquired the house in 1802. Jean Noel Destrehan was his name and he was a wealthy Creole who helped write the state constitution while serving in the Louisiana Legislature.

After the discovery of an inexpensive method of granulating sugar the Destrehan plantation began producing sugarcane. Also known as Americas “White Gold.” The plantation began to boom and the Destrehan family grew with it. The two additional units called garconnieres where added to the sides of the plantation to accommodate the new family members.

In 1823 Stephen Henderson, a wealthy Scotsman, took Destrehan Plantation over. He married Leslie Destrehan who died before him and was half his age. In 1838 Henderson passed away leaving the family with a very complicated will. He had requested after his death that all his slaves be emancipated and given an acre of land, a mule and a cow, or if they chose, they could be given passage to Liberia. This caused major tension in the family.

Along with the beautiful sites of the plantation, in the house today is a large marble bathtub said to have been a gift from the Emperor Napoleon I to Jean Noel Destrehan.