Before leaving St. Francisville we wanted to see the gardens at the Rosedown Plantation State Historic Site. When picking which plantations we wanted to see on this trip we chose those that had a compelling story. Rosedown did not make the grade but it did have 25 acres of historic gardens and 12 outbuildings that could be seen without taking the house tour.
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Click Read More below right...
After a few days of cloudy and cold weather this morning the sky was cloudless and the temperature in the low 60’s, which is perfect weather for strolling through gardens. At this time of year the only blooms are a smattering of camellias and the occasional daffodil or pansy. Despite the absence of flowering plants the landscape was still quite beautiful. The outbuildings included a plantation doctor’s office, privies, the detached kitchen, and a conservatory. The gardens vistas included carefully placed sculptures, summer houses, gurgling fountains and towering live oaks.
We then drove the 1 ½ hrs. to Wallace, LA and the Whitney Plantation. Whitney is the only plantation dedicated to telling the story of the enslaved people -- in this case, 354 enslaved people who built and worked this property.
In the visitor's center there was a good presentation about the origins of slavery in Europe, Africa, and the Americas.
In the visitor's center there was a good presentation about the origins of slavery in Europe, Africa, and the Americas.
In the 1930’s writer’s participating in the Works Progress Administration Writers' Project interviewed people who had been enslaved. These accounts, along with careful research into the plantation records kept by local governments and the plantation itself formed the basis of the tour narrative.
The first stop on the tour is at a church moved to this site from Paulina, LA. The name Anti-Yoke Benevolent Society was chosen as the name of the society that built the church. The name spoke of freedom, of not being tied or bound to anyone. The named was changed in 1890 to the Antioch Baptist Church. Inside the church and elsewhere on the property the strikingly realistic statues of enslaved children reminds the visitor that it was not just adults effected by slavery. These 30-odd statues by Ohio artist Woodrow Nash, are concentrated in the church but are seen at several other locations at the Plantation, including the slave quarters.
The first stop on the tour is at a church moved to this site from Paulina, LA. The name Anti-Yoke Benevolent Society was chosen as the name of the society that built the church. The name spoke of freedom, of not being tied or bound to anyone. The named was changed in 1890 to the Antioch Baptist Church. Inside the church and elsewhere on the property the strikingly realistic statues of enslaved children reminds the visitor that it was not just adults effected by slavery. These 30-odd statues by Ohio artist Woodrow Nash, are concentrated in the church but are seen at several other locations at the Plantation, including the slave quarters.
There are also three different memorials on the property to different segments of the enslaved population as well as several commemorative statues. It was a great tour. They have taken a very difficult subject to discuss and learn about and manage to tell the story in such a way that the visitor is moved and enlightened.
The mansion house’s most unusual feature is the decorative wall paintings done by an itinerant Italian artist.
Since we had a three-hour drive to reach our Mobile lodgings and had not had lunch we stopped at B&C Seafood. We had first been there on our last trip to this area and it is still the number one recommended food emporium for this location. They prepared two portions of shrimp to go which we peeled and ate in the car as we drove. Licking the cocktail sauce off our fingers. We also purchased two containers of gumbo to go and just heated them up in the hotel room microwave. The mini pecan pie was not too shabby either. Yum.
It was a good day.
It was a good day.