Oakland Plantation
by Ben Prepelka
Title
Oakland Plantation
Artist
Ben Prepelka
Medium
Photograph
Description
The Oakland Plantation property, part of the Cane River Creole National Historic Park, dates back to a 1789 Spanish land grant made to Jean Pierre Emmanuel Prudhomme. Prudhomme's plantation was one of the first to grow cotton on a large scale. Enjoying great success, Prudhomme's land holdings quickly expanded along the Red River. Both Louisiana and Mississippi plantations mirrored his success, and soon cotton was king in the American deep south and typical cash crops of tobacco, rice and sugarcane became secondary.
The Oakland Plantation home was built in 1821. Raised at the end of a double line of live oaks, the mansion was aptly named Oakland. Today, the Oakland Plantation home and its out-buildings are near the historic city of Natchitoches. Acquired and managed by the National Park Service, there are 17 original buildings within this site that makeup a small community. Once home for 104 slaves, the plantation property preserves cabins, a carpentry shop, the Prudhomme general store and post office, a doctor's cottage and an assortment of farm buildings.
Uploaded
October 30th, 2021
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Comments (7)
Adrienne Wilson
What a stunning old plantation. Beautiful composition with the Oak trees. I can see a carriage driving up to the house right through the trees.
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