The newly reclaimed/preserved/restored Whitney Plantation near Wallace in St. John the Baptist parish, Louisiana had its grand opening on Sunday, December 7th. As the current owners proudly say on their website, http://www.whitneyplantation.com
This year, the Whitney Plantation opens its doors to the public for the first time in its 262 year history, as the only plantation museum in Louisiana with the focus on slavery. Through museum exhibits, slave narratives, memorial artwork and restored, historic buildings, Whitney Plantation visitors will be immersed in the world of an 1830’s [sic] sugar plantation and the world of the people whose labor made it one of the most successful in Louisiana.”
The museum’s commitment is evidenced not only by the plantation’s logo which features a child of African descent but of its clear focus on the people who made the sugar plantation an economic powerhouse. From the church, to the monument to the people held in bondage, to the slave houses and much more, you will be awed and deeply touched by this museum.
Restored church
Enslaved children sculptures in the church
Monument to slaves held in bondage
It is a “must visit” for anyone interested in experiencing true plantation life and not a watered down version that focuses solely on the “big house” and calls enslaved people “servants.”
Lenora A. Gobert
I went to the dedication with friends who had recently discovered that they were Haydel cousins–my classmate Curtis Graves and John LeBourgeois and his wife and her sister. One family was black, and the other was white. We met a number of old friends and explored the plantation. My recommendation is that they increase the number of benches and scatter them over the site. This is one of those places where you need to sit and contemplate.
I am very interested in experiencing the Whitney museum. What are the hours of operation?