Laurel Valley Sugar Plantation facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Laurel Valley Sugar Plantation
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Ruined mill at the plantation
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 Location in Louisiana
Location in the United States
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| Location | Along Laurel Valley Road, about 2.3 miles (3.7 km) east of Thibodaux |
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| Nearest city | Thibodaux, Louisiana |
| Area | 1,230 acres (500 ha) |
| Built | 1850 |
| Architectural style | American Renaissance, Queen Anne Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 78001426 |
| Added to NRHP | March 24, 1978 |
Laurel Valley Sugar Plantation is a historic place located in Thibodaux, Louisiana. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's recognized as an important part of history.
Contents
History of Laurel Valley Plantation
Early Beginnings
The land where Laurel Valley Plantation stands was first owned by Etienne Boudreaux. He was a French Acadian, one of many who came to southern Louisiana. They arrived after being forced to leave their homes in Nova Scotia. Boudreaux bought this land near Bayou Lafourche in 1785.
Not much is known about the Boudreaux family. But records from 1810 show that 13 people lived there. The Boudreaux family home, built in 1816, is the oldest building still standing on the property.
Growing into a Sugar Farm
In 1832, Joseph W. Tucker bought the property. He was from Virginia and bought about 5,000 acres of land. This land became known as Laurel Valley Plantation. It grew to be one of the biggest sugar producers in Lafourche Parish. A large mill was built on the property to process the sugar.
Before the American Civil War, many people were forced to work on the plantation as slaves. The main house built by Tucker was burned by Union soldiers during the Civil War. However, some older buildings, like the Creole cabins from around 1845, are still there. Also, some "shotgun houses" built around 1895 remain.
The sugar mill stopped working in 1926. It was badly damaged by Hurricane Betsy in 1965. More recently, in 2021, Hurricane Ida caused a lot of damage. Over a dozen original buildings were lost. But Laurel Valley was able to open again just a month later. Today, you can take guided tours of the property.
Laurel Valley Today
A Living History Site
Laurel Valley Plantation still has about 40 of its original buildings. This makes it the largest surviving sugar plantation complex from the 1800s and early 1900s in the United States. It is also still a working sugarcane farm today.
Visiting the Plantation
The general store on the property is open to everyone. Inside, you can see old tools and farm equipment. These were used to grow and harvest sugarcane. The store also sells local arts and crafts. Interestingly, this store was not originally built at the plantation. It was moved there from another location.
Laurel Valley Plantation was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places on March 24, 1978. This means it is protected and recognized for its historical importance.
Images for kids
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Ruined mill at the plantation
See also
- Thibodaux massacre
- Cinclare Sugar Mill Historic District
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Lafourche Parish, Louisiana
