Oak Alley Plantation (Louisiana)

Oak Alley Plantation is a famous historic plantation situated on the west bank of Mississippi River, in Vacherie community, St.James Parish, Louisiana, United States. Oak Alley is christened for its distinguishing feature, an alley (canopied path), created by double row of live oak trees about 240 meters (800 feet) long, planted during the early 18th century, before the present house was constructed. The alley (tree avenue) runs between the River and the home. For its landscaping and architecture, as well as for the innovation of grafting pecan trees, the property was designated National Historic Landmark. Oak Alley Plantation has a total area of 25 acres (10 ha).

The design of Oak Alley Plantation is Greek Revival architecture and the mansion features a square floor plan, which is organized around the central hall that runs to the rear on the two floors. The rooms have high ceilings and big windows. The exterior boasts a free-standing colonnade including 28 Doric columns on all 4 sides which correspond to alley's 28 oak trees. Oak trees like these are common feature of antebellum mansions of Mississippi River Valley.

Built of bricks made on the place, the 16" walls are done with stucco and painted white on the exterior to resemble marble. The roof is made of slate. Originally, it had 4 dormers, 1 on each side of the roof. During the 1920s restoration, rooms were partitioned at the first floor rear and adapted as a kitchen. The staircase was moved to the central hall, the marble floors were replaced with wooden ones. 

The grounds feature a formal garden, installed by Josephine Stewart, separating the mansion from the garage. The old garage is the temporary place for the sugarcane Theater - the history of sugarcane cultivation is explained here via video and exhibits. The Stewart graveyard and a blacksmith shop are also found on the grounds.