~ The Great River Road - Houmas House ~

The Great River Road is a collection of state and local roads which follow the course of the Mississippi River through ten states of the United States. They are Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi and Louisiana.

The Great River Road is not a single road as its name might suggest. It is more accurately described as a designated route, the whole of which consists of connected segments of other named and numbered highways and streets, each maintained by state, county, or local jurisdictions.

The Great River Road has some really fascinating history which you can find lots of information about.

But now, I am going to share with you a little piece of my travels along The River Road. My travels started due to my love of great houses and an interesting book I read about Louisiana. At one time, the great houses were all built along the Mississippi river because it was their way of transporting their crops but also their means of travel and their connection with the other people who lived on the river.

In 2001, I drove the River Road down into Louisiana and stopped at numerous plantations along the way. 

So I am going to start with Houmas House. Built in 1775, this southern splendor was called “The Sugar Palace” and at one time was producing a monumental 20 million pounds of sugar each year. It has 16 rooms filled with period antiques and Louisiana artwork. It has 38 lush acres of gardens, ponds and a majestic live oak alley. The House is so magnificently beautiful, you won’t want to leave.

It is located in Darrow, Louisiana, close to New Orleans.
 

There have been quite a few movies filmed here including Hush, Hush Sweet Charlotte, 1964, with Bette Davis.

 

My Blog Picture

 

Women's Parlour

 

Men's Parlour 

 

 Garçonnière

  A bachelor’s residence that is separate from the main house. 

Teenage boys were moved here to live and separate them from their sisters and the women of the house. 

It was usually very close to the house.

Watch a Video

Here is the link if you cannot view the YouTube player:  Video 

You can read about Houmas House on the Houmas House Website for more information.

More to come on my River Road journeys...