Evergreen Plantation

Evergreen Plantation is a protected complex on the Mississippi River in Louisiana that contains 37 buildings and stands as the most complete example of preserved antebellum architecture. The Greek Revival main house sits beside an oak alley, while the arrangement of buildings shows the original division of work and living areas.

The complex began in 1790 and functioned with enslaved workers who grew and processed sugar cane until emancipation. During 1940s restoration, builders integrated 300,000 bricks from the demolished Uncle Sam Plantation.

The name Evergreen reflects the constant green of the crops, while the double row of preserved cabins shows how plantation owners exercised control through spatial arrangement. Visitors today see the lives of enslaved people traced in space through this walkable structure.

Tours run Monday through Saturday at four fixed times, and visitors should prepare for walking across the entire grounds. The cabin rooms have low doorways, and moving through the grounds requires sturdy footwear.

The complex continues active sugar cane production, making it the only protected plantation with ongoing agricultural use. This dual character allows visitors to see both historical structures and present-day farming methods.