Palo Alto Plantation

Palo Alto Plantation is a Greek Revival house that stands on brick piers with a twelve-foot-wide porch running beneath the roofline along Bayou Lafourche in Ascension Parish. The structure displays the classical features of this architectural style through its symmetrical facade and tall windows.

The house was built around 1847 and initially belonged to Pierre Oscar Ayraud and Rosalie Rodriguez before the Lemann family took ownership in 1860. Its changing hands reflect the shifts in regional property ownership during a significant era.

Window panes here bear historical scratches with names and initials that families once used to test their diamond rings. These marked glass panels tell the story of visitors who passed through the house over time.

The property now operates as a bed and breakfast and event venue, so visiting often depends on prior booking or scheduled events. It helps to check ahead since access can vary based on current use.

French artist Marie Adrien Persac chose this Anglo-Creole plantation house as the subject for several paintings. This artistic documentation makes it an important subject in the region's art history.