This former colonial home (kenthouse.org) is located in Alexandria, about 100 miles away from Marion. Its former owners were French, therefore the architecture demonstrates the European influences present in Louisiana. This is one of the oldest buildings in the state. The house was finished in 1800 and boasted several bedrooms, a visitor’s room, library and ladies’ parlor. The grounds had a separate “slave cabin” and kitchen where meals would be prepared; all these rooms are open to the public. Despite having undergone renovation several times it still offers a glimpse into a plantation home.
The grounds of this home in Baton Rouge (no website; 2161 Nicholson Drive
Baton Rouge; 225-343-4955) cover almost 15 acres of land. This historical house is 138 miles away from Marion. Once belonging to French Creole settlers, today the historical house is a museum devoted to teach about the life of these early settlers. There are several buildings which can be explored, including an open-hearth kitchen and a carriage house. Workshops, lectures and other events take place here; there is also a special children’s section with toys and books.
The San Francisco Plantation house (sanfranciscoplantation.org) in Garyville is just over 200 miles away from Marion. It is regarded as the most lavish house of its kind in the whole of the United States. Despite the land once belonging to a free man of color, it was eventually sold to a rich slave owner who continued to acquired slaves to work the sugar plantations. The interior of the house has fake marble surfaces, hand-painted ceilings and period furniture; guided tours of the building are available and its beautiful surroundings mean it is often hired out for weddings.
This building in Baton Rouge (oldgovernorsmansion.org) was the governor's mansion of Louisiana from 1887 to 1964, when new headquarters were built and the Louisiana Arts and Science Center moved in. Today, the four-story building is open to the public, from the state dining rooms to the private bedrooms. It’s an ostentatious building, with marble staircases, dripping chandeliers and huge wooden doors. Guided tours are offered and it can be hired out for weddings.
