Evergreen Plantation (Wallace, Louisiana) facts for kids
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Evergreen Plantation
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 Location in Louisiana
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | LA 18, Wallace, Louisiana |
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| Built | 1790, 1832 |
| Architect | John Carver |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, Federal |
| NRHP reference No. | 91001386 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | September 25, 1991 |
| Designated NHL | April 27, 1992 |
Evergreen Plantation is a historic plantation located in Wallace, Louisiana. It sits on the west side of the Mississippi River. The main house was built in 1790. It was later updated in 1832 to the beautiful Greek Revival style you see today.
For many years, Evergreen Plantation grew sugarcane. This crop was tended by enslaved African Americans until they gained their freedom. The plantation stopped operating around 1930 during the Great Depression. However, it still grows sugarcane today under new ownership. The house was carefully restored in the 1940s. Many bricks from another old plantation were used to help fix it up.
What Makes Evergreen Special?
Evergreen Plantation is very special because it has many of its original buildings. There are 37 buildings that are part of its history. Most of these were built before the American Civil War. This makes it one of the most complete plantation sites in the southern United States.
A very important part of the plantation are the 22 slave quarters. These small homes are arranged in two rows along a long path lined with oak trees.
Other buildings include a garçonnière, which was a place for young men or guests to stay. There's also a pigeonnier, a building for keeping pigeons. This showed that the plantation owners were wealthy. You can also see the overseer's cottage and barns from the late 1800s.
A National Historic Landmark
Evergreen Plantation is recognized for its important history and architecture. It was chosen as one of the first 26 sites on the Louisiana African American Heritage Trail. In 1992, it was named a National Historic Landmark. This means it's a place of great national importance.
A businesswoman named Matilda Geddings Gray helped pay for the restoration of the house in the 1940s. Today, you can visit Evergreen Plantation. It is open for tours every day except Sundays. Tours are offered at 9:30 AM, 11:15 AM, 1:00 PM, and 2:45 PM.
See also
- Whitney Plantation Historic District, another historic site nearby
- Louisiana African American Heritage Trail
- List of National Historic Landmarks in Louisiana
