Laura Plantation Tour: Black Union Soldiers' Stories

Nine men who fled slavery to fight for their own freedom

A 50-minute guided outdoor tour at Laura Plantation that centers on nine enslaved men who escaped and fought as Union Soldiers during the Civil War. The tour walks the plantation grounds and the authentic 1840s slave cabins where these men lived, telling their individual stories and the impact of slavery and the Civil War in Louisiana. A self-guided exhibit is available before or after the tour for deeper context into the lives of the enslaved community.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Laura Plantation grounds and history

• Join 50-minute guided outdoor tour
• Learn about nine enslaved Union Soldiers
• Visit authentic 1840s slave cabins
• Hear stories of Civil War and slavery
• Tour excludes main house
• Visit self-guided exhibit before or after

The Experience

The tour focuses entirely on the nine men who fled Laura Plantation during the Civil War and joined the Union Army. Rather than a broad plantation history, this 50-minute walk stays with their specific journeys—who they were, what they risked, and what freedom meant to them. The guide leads you through the grounds and into the authentic 1840s slave cabins where these men lived before they escaped, grounding their stories in the actual places they inhabited.

You'll walk the plantation property with a live guide who speaks English, moving at a pace that lets the narratives land. The tour does not enter the main house; instead it stays focused on the cabins and the grounds where the enslaved community lived and worked. If you want more context, a self-guided exhibit is available either before you start or after the tour ends, letting you choose when to sit with the broader history of slavery and the Civil War's impact in Louisiana.

What’s included

• The tour includes a 50-minute guided outdoor walk with a live English-speaking guide.
• access to the authentic 1840s slave cabins on the plantation grounds.
• and a self-guided exhibit available before or after your tour for deeper context on the enslaved community.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyPets welcome

Operated by Laura Plantation

Is this one for you?This is a shared guided tour, so you'll walk with other visitors and a live guide rather than exploring on your own. Choose it if you want the stories of these nine men told by someone who knows the history, grounded in the actual places they lived—the cabins and grounds where their lives unfolded before they escaped.

Top questions

What exactly does the tour cover at Laura Plantation?

The tour focuses on nine enslaved men who fled Laura Plantation during the Civil War and fought as Union Soldiers. You walk the grounds and visit the authentic 1840s slave cabins where these men lived, learning their individual stories and the choices they made to seek freedom.

Does the tour go inside the main house?

No. The tour stays on the plantation grounds and in the slave cabins. The main house is not part of this tour; the focus remains on the lives and stories of the nine enslaved men.

How long is the tour and what's included?

The tour is 50 minutes long and includes a guided walk of the plantation grounds, access to the authentic 1840s slave cabins, and a live English-speaking guide. A self-guided exhibit about the enslaved community is also available for you to visit before or after the tour.

Is this tour accessible for people with mobility challenges?

Yes. The tour is wheelchair accessible, and transportation options are wheelchair accessible as well. Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller, and service animals are allowed.

Can I visit the self-guided exhibit on my own time?

Yes. The self-guided exhibit can be visited either before you start the 50-minute tour or after it ends, so you can choose when to explore additional insights into the lives of the enslaved community.