San Francisco Plantation House facts for kids
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San Francisco Plantation House
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 Location in Louisiana
Location in the United States
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| Location | 2646 Louisiana Highway 44, Garyville, Louisiana, U.S. |
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| Area | 8 acres (3.2 ha) |
| Built | 1856 |
| Architectural style | Gothic |
| NRHP reference No. | 74002186 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | May 30, 1974 |
| Designated NHL | May 30, 1974 |
The San Francisco Plantation House is a very old and special house in Reserve, St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana. It was built a long time ago, between 1853 and 1856. This house is known for its unique and beautiful design, making it one of the most interesting plantation houses in the southern United States. Because it is so important, it was named a National Historic Landmark in 1974. Today, it sits on land that belongs to the Garyville Refinery.
What Makes This House Special?
The San Francisco Plantation House is located on the north side of the Mississippi River. A road called Louisiana Highway 44 and a levee (a wall to hold back water) are between the house and the river. The house stands on about 8 acres (about 3.2 hectares) of land. This area is now surrounded by large oil tanks.
House Design and Features
The house has one and a half stories and sits on a tall basement. The basement floor is made of brick and is about 6 feet (1.8 meters) deep. Brick pillars rise from the basement to support the main part of the house.
You can walk up divided staircases on the sides to reach the main floor. This floor has a fancy porch on three sides. The porch is held up by columns with detailed iron tops. The roof of the porch sticks out far and has decorative edges. This special look gives the house a style sometimes called "Steamboat Gothic." The house also has a hip roof with dormer windows.
Inside, the house is very richly decorated. There are paintings on the ceilings and door panels. These paintings are thought to have been done by an artist from New Orleans named Dominique Canova.
History of the House
The San Francisco Plantation House was built for a man named Edmond Marmillion. It is believed to have been constructed between 1853 and 1856. Some parts of the house might even be from an older building.
The house has an unusual name, "San Francisco." The story goes that Edmond's oldest son, Valsin, took over the estate. He found himself in a lot of debt. He said he was sans fruscins, which means "without a penny in my pocket" in French. Over time, this phrase changed into "St. Frusquin." Then, in 1879, the next owner, Achille D. Bougère, changed the name to "San Francisco."
Today, the house is owned by Marathon Petroleum Corporation. They bought the property when they purchased the Garyville Refinery in the mid-1970s. The house used to be open to visitors as a museum and a place for events. However, it closed to the public in 2022.
See Also
- List of National Historic Landmarks in Louisiana
- National Register of Historic Places listings in St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana
- Frances Parkinson Keyes (1885–1970), an author who wrote a novel called Steamboat Gothic.
