Oak Alley Plantation

Oak Alley Plantation sits on the west bank of the Mississippi River in Vacherie, Louisiana, 45 miles upriver from New Orleans. The property takes its name from the celebrated alley of 28 southern live oak trees, thought to have been planted around 1700 — roughly 150 years before the current Greek Revival mansion was constructed — that stretches approximately 800 feet from the river levee to the front gallery of the house. This double row of canopy oaks, each reaching up to 300 years in age with interlocking branches forming a vaulted tunnel overhead, creates one of the most photographed perspectives in the American South. The current plantation house was built between 1837 and 1839 for sugar planter Jacques Télesphore Roman and his wife Célina Pilie. The mansion's 28 massive Doric columns mirror the 28 oak trees, creating a unified visual design characteristic of high-style antebellum Greek Revival architecture. Guided tours of the interior last approximately 40 minutes and cover the family's history, architectural details of the house, and the lives of enslaved workers who built and maintained the plantation. A separate exhibit in the brick slave quarters addresses the enslaved community in significant depth, including reconstructed living conditions and documented personal histories. Beyond the house and quarters, visitors can walk the full length of the oak alley, visit a small Creole cottage exhibit, and enjoy the riverside grounds. A café and bar on the property serves Creole-style food, and the plantation operates a small number of overnight cottages for guests. Photography under the oaks is best in the early morning when mist from the Mississippi occasionally lingers and the overhead canopy catches golden light. The south-facing aspect means morning light from the river side is most favorable. A typical visit, including a guided house tour and grounds exploration, takes 2 to 3 hours. Combining Oak Alley with nearby Laura Plantation (approximately 5 miles east along River Road) allows two contrasting plantation experiences in a single day.