Melrose Plantation

Melrose, Louisiana

Largest planation built by free Black people.

Also known as Yucca Plantation, this is of the largest plantations in the U.S. built by and for free Black people.  It is the story of a female slave and a young French merchant and their nineteen-year relationship resulting in ten children.  Today, the plantation contains nine historic buildings including the African House, Yucca House, Weaving Cabin, Bindery and the Big House.

It is also the story much later of Clementine Hunter, a self-taught African-American folk artist who lived and worked on Melrose Plantation.  She is the first African-American artist to have a solo exhibition at the present-day New Orleans Museum of Art.  The site is part of the Cane River Creole National Historic Park

An art piece by Clementine Hunter depicting cotton picking.