The allée, which means path in French,
was crucial to the landscape of the Main
House. Live, oaks (Quercus virginiana) were
transplantet for both beauty and purpose.
Transplanting trees is an enormous
undertaking and required a planter who
had . . . — — Map (db m242151) HM
Near Louisiana 494 (State Highway 494) 0.5 miles north of State Highway 119.
Pigeonniers (pee-zjuhn-yay) were once common on Louisiana Creole plantations. Constructed of timber framing with bousillage infill, it is one of the most direct links between French and Louisiana architecture. Originally built as . . . — — Map (db m232121) HM
On Louisiana 484, 0.3 miles north of Route 493, on the left when traveling north.
This historic house is the only surviving example
of poteaux-en-terre (post in the ground) and
bousillage architecture in Louisiana and features
a single central chimney and dirt floors. This
house is also the only one of five . . . — — Map (db m227368) HM
On State Highway 484, 0.3 miles north of Route 493, on the left when traveling north.
Like most plantation outer buildings
the Badin-Roque kitchen was originally
located behind the main house. The
building is a cypress and bousillage
structure set up on piers.
The kitchen was moved
to the
city of Natchitoches as early as . . . — — Map (db m227371) HM
On Louisiana 494 (State Highway 494) 0.5 miles north of State Highway 119.
Welcome
We invite you to take a cultural journey and immerse
yourself in the rich, diverse heritage and vibrant
living traditions of Cane River. In 1994, U.S.
Congress acknowledged the unique qualities of this
region by creating Cane . . . — — Map (db m232083) HM
The Cook's Cabin was originally located
behind the Main House in an area
known as "the yard." Records indicate
that enslaved cooks, laundresses, and
others lived in "the yard." Little is
known of the enslaved cooks other than
Venus who was . . . — — Map (db m241835) HM
Louisiana architecture was shaped
by culture and climate. Creole is
multicultural, blending French,
Spanish, African, and Native
American heritages, and the
architecture reflects this diversity.
A Raised Creole House featured
wide, . . . — — Map (db m241832) HM
Near Louisiana 494 (State Highway 494) near State Highway 119.
As the Civil War descended into the Red River valley in 1863, the presence of U.S. soldiers located in nearby Alexandria
began to disrupt plantation life and watchmen were posted each night. On June 20, 1863, Oakland Overseer, J. T. McNeely
wrote . . . — — Map (db m242183) HM
Near Louisiana Route 484, 0.3 miles south of Parish Road (Louisiana Route 493), on the right when traveling south.
"Grandpère" Nicolas Augustin Metoyer, the oldest son of Claude Thomas Pierre Metoyer
and Marie Thérèse Coincoin, was born a twin on January 22, 1768 Grandpere, a
visionary and spiritual leader, is the Founder of St. Augustine Catholic Church and . . . — — Map (db m227367) HM
The Horse Soldiers, a 1959 film, starring John Wayne, William Holden,
Constance Tower and Althea Gibson, attempted to capture the drama of
Benjamin Grierson's Union cavalry and through Mississippi during the 1863
Vicksburg Campaign. . . . — — Map (db m229532) HM
On State Highway 494 at State Highway 119 on State Highway 494.
The pecan tree (Carya illinoinensis) is
native to North America growing it
natural groves near rivers or lakes.
Due to the pecan's availability and
taste, native peoples used them as a
food source. Most native pecans are
small but . . . — — Map (db m241834) HM
On Louisiana 494 (State Highway 494) 0.5 miles north of State Highway 119.
A few miles down river, Ambrose LeCompte established Magnolia
Plantation in 1835. However, Magnolia Plantation's early history is rooted in colonial
Louisiana. In the 1750s, the LeCompte family received a French-era land grant on
Cane River, . . . — — Map (db m232087) HM
Near Louisiana 494 near Louisiana 119 (Louisiana Route 119).
The carpenter was an important craftsman.
Carpenters built and repaired houses, barns,
and shops. The Carpenter Shop, built of hand-
hewn timbers held together with half-dovetail
notching, may be one of the oldest remaining
structures as it . . . — — Map (db m241830) HM
On Louisiana 494 (State Highway 494) 0.5 miles north of 119.
Mules are a hybrid offspring from a male donkey and a female horse. They are generally smaller than horses, but stronger and more sure- footed. They were preferred over horses for farm work were an important part of agricultural production in the . . . — — Map (db m232076) HM
The Overseer was the link between
the planter and their enslaved
laborers during the Antebellum
period. His primary duty consisted
of overseeing the daily work of the
enslaved people. Knowledge of
weather patterns and soil
conservation was . . . — — Map (db m242153) HM
Near Louisiana 494 (State Highway 494) 0.5 miles north of Route 119, on the right.
Rarely do you encounter original outbuildings where generations of the
same families of owners and workers, enslaved and tenant, lived and worked. Inside
these barns, smokehouses, sheds, coops, kitchens, storehouses, and cabins, the people . . . — — Map (db m232077) HM
On State Highway 494, 0.3 miles north of Cedar Bend Road, on the right when traveling north.
(side 1)
This c. 1836 center hall Creole cottage is of poteaux sur sole, (hand-hewn pegged cypress sills on brick piers) and bousillage construction on the 1780s land grant to Claude Pierre Thomas Metoyer. The lower 68 acres given to a . . . — — Map (db m70645) HM
On State Highway 494 at State Highway 119 on State Highway 494.
Prior to the end of the Civil War, many enslaved people worked in the house cooking and
serving meals, cleaning, attending family members and caring for the children. They lived in
cabins behind the house except for the Prud'homme children's . . . — — Map (db m241833) HM
Near Louisiana 494 (Louisiana Route 494) near Louisiana Highway 119.
The Helaire family traces its history back to the late
1700s and two enslaved workers whose son, Helaire,
was born on Oakland in 1809. Known as Jean Baptiste
Helaire after Emancipation, he and his wife Filis (or
Phillis) raised seven children . . . — — Map (db m242194) HM
The grand Live Oaks in the allée or alley were planted around 1826
according to the Prud'homme family. The interlocking canopies cool
a large area in front of the house, but they also help channel cool
breezes toward the house.
From formal . . . — — Map (db m241837) HM
Many African cultures had an
iron-working tradition which was
passed down from father to son.
Plantations required blacksmiths
to make and repair tools and
hardware. While the Blacksmith
Shop no longer stands, the work
of these craftsmen . . . — — Map (db m242152) HM
