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Double row of oak trees about Oak Alley
Courtesy of Lagniappe Tours, the Foundation for Historical Louisiana Oak Alley up close
Courtesy of Lagniappe Tours, the Foundation for Historical Louisiana |
Originally
named Bon Sejour, Oak Alley was built in 1837-39 by George Swainey for
Jacques Telesphore Roman, brother of Andre Roman who was twice governor
of Louisiana. Joseph Pilie, Jacques Telesphore Roman's father-in-law,
was an architect and is thought to have provided the design of Oak
Alley. Oak Alley's most distinguishing architectural feature is a full
peripteral (free-standing) colonnade of 28 colossal Doric columns. Such
plantation houses were once scattered along the Mississippi valley,
though Oak Alley is probably the finest of those remaining. In 1866, Oak
Alley was sold at auction to John Armstrong. Several owners followed
Armstrong, and by the 1920s, the house was is in a state of
deterioration. Andrew and Josephine Stewart purchased the property in
1925 and hired architect Richard Koch to conduct an extensive
restoration. The pale pink of the plastered columns and walls and the
blue green of the louvered shutters and gallery railing were color
choices of Mrs. Stewart at that time. Square in plan, the interior has a
central hall from front to rear on both floors. At each end of both
halls the doors have broad fanlights and sidelights framed with slim,
fluted colonnettes. Rooms at the first floor rear were partitioned and
adapted to modern uses at the time of restoration in the 1920's.Equally
significant is the impressive double row of giant live oak trees which
form the oak alley, about 800 feet long, from which the property derived
its present name. Planted before the house was constructed in 1837,
this formal planting is a historic landscape design long recognized for
its beauty. An important event in American horticultural history
occurred in the winter of 1846-47 when Antoine, a slave gardener at Oak
Alley, first successfully grafted pecan trees. His work resulted in the
first named variety, Centennial, and the first commercial pecan orchard
at nearby Anita Plantation. Josephine Stewart established a nonprofit
organization to manage Oak Alley after her death. This Greek Revival
showplace is now open to the public for tours.
Oak Alley
Plantation, a National Historic Landmark, is located on 3645 State Hwy.
18 in Vacherie. Fortunately, the house was not damaged by Hurricane
Katrina, but please check with them directly to confirm the current
hours of operation. Oak Alley is normally open daily 9:00am to 5:30pm
from March-October and 9:00am to 5:00pm from November-February. Tours
are available for a fee and groups are encouraged to call ahead. Call
1-800-442-5539 or visit the website for more information.
Source: Internet
