Poplar Grove Plantation, historic building, site, and cemetery, Louisiana plantation built in the 1820s, house built in 1884
Poplar Grove Plantation is a historic agricultural estate in West Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, centered on sugar production and situated near River Road. The main house, originally constructed in 1884 for a world exposition and relocated to the site by barge in 1886, features Victorian, Italianate, and Chinese architectural elements with ornamental woodwork and stained glass details.
The site was established in the 1820s when James McCalop consolidated multiple land parcels into a growing sugar plantation. The house arrived in 1886 after being transported by barge from New Orleans, purchased by planter Joseph L. Harris, and the Wilkinson family acquired it in 1903, operating the plantation until 1982.
The name refers to the poplar trees that once shaded the property, though many were removed when a levee was built closer to the house in the 1920s. The architectural details visible today, particularly the carved wooden decorations and mixed design styles, reflect the tastes and craftsmanship of the late 1800s.
The site is not open daily and requires appointments to visit, so plan ahead before traveling. The location along River Road in West Baton Rouge Parish is easily accessible by car, and visitors can walk through the grounds to see the historic house and remaining buildings.
The main house was originally built as an exhibition pavilion in New Orleans in 1884 and transported upriver by barge in 1886, representing an unusual journey for a large building. The carved wooden dragons adorning the porch are a rare architectural detail reflecting the exotic influences of the late 1800s.
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