Laura Plantation: Creole Family Stories & Slave Cabins Tour

Creole family life and history at Laura Plantation with stories from the past

You’ll walk through Laura Plantation’s colorful main house and gardens with a local guide who shares real Creole family stories: both joyful and hard to hear. Explore original 1840s slave cabins where Louisiana folklore was born, and feel history come alive in small moments you didn’t expect.

Step-by-step itinerary

Guided tour of Laura Plantation

• Join guided tour in English or French
• Visit Maison Principale house
• Explore plantation gardens
• See original 1840s slave cabins
• Hear stories of Creole family

The experience

The first thing I noticed at Laura Plantation was the color: that yellow house against the green sugarcane, almost too bright for the cloudy Louisiana sky. Our guide, Simone, started us off on the porch, telling stories in this gentle accent I couldn’t quite place (she said her grandmother spoke French at home). She pointed to the live oaks and explained how four generations of the same Creole family lived here, not just owners, but everyone, free and enslaved. I kept thinking how close together all their lives must have been. The air smelled faintly sweet, like molasses left out in the heat.

We walked through rooms filled with old portraits and creaky floorboards. It’s strange to stand where people argued or laughed two centuries ago. Simone shared pieces from handwritten memoirs. She read a line about a little girl sneaking sugar from the kitchen and smiled like she knew her. Then we stepped outside into sticky air (bring water if you come in summer), and she led us toward the original slave cabins from the 1840s. That part hit harder than I expected. She talked about Compair Lapin stories being told right here. I’d only heard them as Br’er Rabbit growing up, never realized they were recorded in Louisiana Creole first.

There’s something about hearing these histories while touching rough wood doorframes or standing under trees older than anyone alive. A few folks in our group got quiet walking through those cabins. I did too. It felt honest, not easy, but necessary. I still think about one story Simone told, about a woman who gardened every morning before sunrise because that was her only time alone. You don’t forget details like that.

What’s included

Your day includes a guided walking tour of Laura Plantation with access to the colorful main house, lush gardens, and original 1840s slave cabins: all led by a knowledgeable local guide sharing personal stories throughout your visit.

Options for this experience

3 options

French-language guide11:00 and 13:00Covers the main house and the cabins, led by a French-speaking guide.

Full site tour, all areasGuide in English · 6 departure times: the first at 10:00, the last at 14:20Visits the main house and cabins across the whole site.

Union soldiers focus, no main houseGuide in English · 10:30Centers on nine enslaved men who escaped to fight for the Union; skips the main house.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day except Wednesday9 departure times: the first at 10:00, the last at 14:20

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Youth (13 to 17 years) · Child (6 to 12 years) · Infant (under 6): free

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.Operator's directions: “YOU must drive yourself to the plantation. Ticket does not include transportation to/from the plantation. Do not take taxis, Uber or Lyft.”

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPets welcomeInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Laura Plantation

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

In French, at 11:00 and 13:00. In English, with 7 departure times.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 17 years); Child (6 to 12 years); Infant (under 6): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24h before the start.

How long is the Laura Plantation guided tour?

The guided tour typically lasts around 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Are tours available in French at Laura Plantation?

Yes, daily tours are offered in both English and French.

Is Laura Plantation wheelchair accessible?

Only the ground floor of the main house is ADA accessible. Some outdoor areas may be uneven.

What will I see on the Laura Plantation tour?

You’ll visit the Maison Principale (main house), gardens, and original 1840s slave cabins.

Is lunch included on this tour?

No, lunch is not included with this tour.

Does this day trip operate in bad weather?

The tour operates rain or shine. Dress appropriately for outdoor portions.