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.
I would now like to introduce you to Oak Alley Plantation. This was by far the most beautiful and well-preserved plantation house that I visited. The alley of trees is breathtaking.
Called the "Grande Dame of the Great River Road", it is perhaps the most photographed plantation in Louisiana. This home was built in 1839 and was originally named Bon Séjour (pleasant sojourn). Passengers on steamboats, traveling on the nearby Mississippi River, had a very different view of the property. Marveling at the quarter-mile avenue of 28 giant, live oaks leading up to the house, they dubbed it “Oak Alley.”
Oak Alley was established to grow sugar cane. The plantation was not physically damaged during the American Civil War, but the economic dislocations of the war and the end of slavery made it no longer economically viable.
The design is Greek Revival architecture. The mansion has a square floor plan, organized around a central hall that runs from the front to the rear on both floors. The rooms feature high ceilings and large windows.
It is located in Vacherie, Louisiana, and lies between Baton Rouge and New Orleans.
I have to admit that this was the house the knocked my socks off. Everything about it is absolutely fabulous.
Films:
The Long Hot Summer with Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward and including Don Johnson, Cybill Shepherd and Ava Gardner.
Interview with a Vampire starring Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt. Based on the Anne Rice best seller by the same name.
Primary Colors starring John Travolta, Emma Thompson, Kathy Bates, Bill Bob Thornton
These are not my pictures but ones that I found on the web. They are much nicer than my own since I did not have a decent camera at the time.
Clicking on the pictures will expand them to a larger size.
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| The Alley of Oaks |
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| Sun Dappled |
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| Entry Hall |
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| Dining Room |
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| Living Room |
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| Bedroom |
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| Bedroom |
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| Bedroom |
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| The Grounds |
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| Side of House |
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| Sunset |
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| An old painting I found |
Watch a Video
Here is the link if you cannot view the YouTube player: Video
You can read about Oak Alley Plantation on the Oak Alley Plantation Website if you would like more information
More to come on my River Road journeys...
