Laura Plantation

Vacherie, Louisiana

The famous West African tales of “Br’er Rabbit” were recorded here.

Louisiana was the last place on the North American continent where slavery was legally permitted.  The institution that lasted over 140 years began in the state more as a system of class rather than of color or race as there were African, American Indian and European slaves in Louisiana.  Creole Louisiana would function as a class society with slavery the lowest.  The plantation also offers a Creole Heritage Trail.

On the grounds are 12 buildings on the National Register, including animal barns, overseers' cottages and the 1829 Maison de Reprise.  A guided tour inside one of our slave cabins, built in 1840, where the ancient west-African tales of Compair Lapin, better known in English as “Br'er Rabbit,” were recorded. 

Also, in Vacherie is Oak Alley Plantation.  The exhibit "Slavery at Oak Alley’s” includes reconstructed slave quarters where you can learn about those who made plantation life possible.  

Nearby is Whitney Plantation in Edgard which focuses primarily on the lives of enslaved people.

Depictions of slave children inside the slavery museum at Whitney Plantation, Edgard, Louisiana.