Southdown Plantation facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Southdown Plantation
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The restored plantation house as it appears today.
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 Location in Louisiana
Location in the United States
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| Location | Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1858 |
| NRHP reference No. | 74002188 |
| Added to NRHP | January 18, 1974 |
Southdown Plantation is a famous old plantation in Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana. It's a special place with a long history. Today, the main house is a museum where you can learn about life in the past.
Contents
How Southdown Plantation Started
Southdown Plantation began in 1828. It was started by William John Minor and James Dinsmore. The land was first given by the Spanish government. Before Minor and Dinsmore, brothers Jim and Rezin Bowie grew indigo plants there.
William John Minor bought the land, which was over 1,000 acres. Soon, sugarcane became the main crop. The first sugar mill was built around 1830. Later, William John Minor owned the whole plantation.
Building the Main House
The main house you see today was built in 1858. William John Minor had it built. He named it after a type of sheep called "Southdown" that his family raised. The house was made from bricks fired by hand. Wood from local cypress and pine trees was also used.
The house was originally one story. In 1893, William's son, Henry Chotard Minor, made it bigger. He added a second story and special walkways with columns. Around the same time, beautiful glass panels were put into the house. These panels showed scenes of the plantation, palmetto leaves, magnolia branches, and sugar cane stalks.
The plantation grew to over 10,000 acres of sugar cane fields. It also had a sugar mill and a race track. The Minor family helped the sugar industry grow in the area. They even developed a type of sugar cane that could resist a plant disease. The Minor family was known for hosting many fun parties and events at their home.
Southdown Plantation Today
During the 1930s, a tough time called the Great Depression, the Minor family lost the plantation. A company called Realty Operators took over. Later, this company changed its name to Southdown Sugar Inc.
In 1979, the Southdown sugar mill closed down. Its parts were sent to Guatemala and put back together there. It was the last of many sugar mills that had worked in Terrebonne Parish.
Becoming a Museum
In 1974, Southdown Plantation was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's recognized as an important historical site. The next year, the company that owned it, Southdown Land, gave the property to a local history group.
The plantation house was then carefully fixed up. During this work, they found the original pink and green paint colors from 1893. They restored the house to look just like it did back then. On June 27, 1982, the plantation house and other buildings opened to the public. Now, it's a museum where everyone can visit and learn about its history.
