

Historic Treasures Beyond the Big Columns

Thinking of the antebellum plantations in Louisiana, the first images that come to mind are the mansions themselves. These typically huge, ornate and architecturally complex homes served as the living quarters and business hubs for extremely wealthy sugar and cotton planters. Envision the homes’ massive columns, exquisite landscaping and formal gardens, centuries-old live oak trees and tranquil settings on the Mississippi River and other major waterways. Any Louisiana traveler packing a camera is likely to capture one or more snapshots of the majestic manors’ facades.

Poverty Point is Just the Starting Point

As Old World civilizations built legacies such as Stonehenge and the Parthenon, construction crews were just as busy in the New World—in Louisiana to be precise.

Crews here were American Indians, working with dirt and baskets instead of rocks and cutting tools. People worked countless hours in the valleys of the Mississippi River and other Louisiana waterways, shaping earthen mounds that likely served residential and ceremonial purposes.