Tours & tickets

Destrehan Plantation

Embark on a hauntingly immersive tour from New Orleans to Destrehan Plantation, where history forms the backdrop for an exploration of the lives of diverse individuals who left an indelible mark on Louisiana's culture during its early years. Hop onboard a bus in New Orleans and embark on a journey to the Destrehan Plantation, the oldest documented plantation home in the lower Mississippi Valley. Delve into the chilling accounts of the trials that took place after the 1811 Slave Revolt, one of the largest slave revolts in US history. Uncover the rich tapestry of Louisiana's cultural "gumbo" with stories encompassing enslaved Africans, free creoles of color, Acadians, and Native Americans. Walk amidst the lingering spirits that still inhabit the plantation's historic home, echoing through time. Discover the evolution of Voodoo in South Louisiana, as it melded African, Haitian, and Catholic spiritual beliefs and practices. Guided by a storyteller who unveils the truth behind the mystique of the often-misunderstood Voodoo, challenge conventional perceptions and explore its authentic essence.

Upon arrival, enter through the Destrehan Plantation store and gift shop, and exit through the back door onto the grounds, where they will meet a personal interpreter to begin the tour. The interpreter will share stories about the people who lived on the plantation, both free and enslaved. See an original document signed by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, and to learn the significance of the document in terms of how it relates to Louisiana History. You may either choose to have a guided tour with a descendant of Jean Destrehan, to learn about the various peoples who shaped the "German Coast." After the house tour, view a folk-life demonstration and self-explore the dependency buildings, such as a slave cabin with an enslavement registry, an overseer's cabin showcasing the 1811 Slave Revolt and Rost Home Colony exhibits, an outdoor kitchen, a washroom, a trapper's cabin and the Legacy Room displaying original documents and artifacts from the family members.

Enjoy our Louisiana tour, which brings you from the historical sites of the Destrehan plantation to the remote swamps in Cajun Country. Narrated short scenic drive out of the city and along the shores of Lake Ponchartrain to Destrehan Plantation on the East bank of the Old River Road: a pilgrimage back in time to the Antebellum South. First you will be brought on a tour of Destrehan Plantation where guides in period costumes will bring to life the stories of generations who lived on and worked this rich land – both owners and slaves. They will share with you every detail of this mansion's history since 1787. Enjoy some free time to walk around under a spectacular canopy of live oaks around the mansion and the slave quarters. We then drive down to a remote swamp in Cajun Country for a thrilling high-speed 2-hour ride onboard 6-passenger airboats, comfortably gliding over marshes, deep into secluded bayous. You may even get to hold a baby alligator, feed giant catfish, or meet a nutria face to face.