Destrehan Plantation — Attraction in Kenner

We only had time to visit one plantation during our short stay in the area, and we’re so glad we chose Destrehan. It's convenient location—just a short drive from New Orleans—made it easy to fit into our itinerary; however, it was the site's rich historical depth that ultimately captivated us. As the oldest documented plantation home in the lower Mississippi Valley, Destrehan offers a rare window into the region’s complex past.

Our guided tour was led by Beverly, a knowledgeable and engaging interpreter dressed in authentic period attire, which added a layer of immersion to the experience. Rather than just presenting a visual tour of stately architecture and manicured grounds, she shared powerful narratives about the people—enslaved and free—who lived and labored on the property. The stories focused on real individuals involved in the home’s construction and ownership, which made the history feel intimate and human.

What truly distinguished this tour was its honest, respectful, and deeply human approach to interpreting plantation life. Rather than romanticizing the past, it offered a compelling and unvarnished look at the complex history of the home and those who lived and labored there.

Jean Noël Destrehan played a pivotal role in shaping Louisiana’s early political landscape, and his legacy is deeply woven into the region’s history. His life and story are shared with visitors as they tour the home, offering insight into his influence and the era in which he lived.

Equally significant, however, is the recognition of the enslaved craftsmen who built his home by hand, using only rudimentary tools and enduring unimaginable hardship. Their skill, labor, and resilience are honored alongside his story, presenting a fuller, more honest portrayal of the past.

This acknowledgment extends to the lives of all the enslaved individuals who lived and worked on the property, whose daily struggles and quiet strength are essential to understanding the site’s true history. Their contributions are neither overlooked nor minimized, making the experience both enlightening and profoundly moving.

Destrehan Plantation offers a tour that is as educational as it is enlightening, presenting a thoughtful and nuanced perspective on the lives of its former inhabitants. It also explores the broader context of regional history and confronts the complex realities of slavery with honesty and care.

Beyond its historical importance, the house stands as a remarkable example of skilled craftsmanship, with hand-hewn timber and handmade bricks that embody the hard work and artistry of those who constructed it.

I picked up a book from the gift shop and added several more to my reading list to continue learning about this era. The experience stayed with me long...

The plantation is lovely. We went on Saturday 4/3 and took the 1pm tour. The staff were nice and welcoming. Our guide Allen (I think) was knowledgeable and informative. He gave a lot of information but was short, precise and interactive. I appreciated that. We asked questions and he knew the answers. We visited some out buildings but sadly couldn’t explore the whole plantation because it started raining cats and dogs. We went into another exhibit about slave revolt and there was Ms. Julie who was the guide there or facilitator. She seemed very passionate about the subject and very knowledgeable. Having said that she started talking like a boring professor and looked at us like unruly students. We were literally sitting/standing there looking at her afraid of getting in trouble. We had another engagement but her train would not come to a station that we could get off at! She was going hour by hour of the slave revolt. We quite literally had to make an escape. She turned to the last of our group and said with disdain “ you have to leave?” Yes ma’am thinking I’ll get in trouble for leaving the classroom!!? My goodness! I took a star off because of that. While I appreciate the knowledge, I appreciate keeping it short, interesting and precise even more. Also if we are not interesting in knowing that many details, we should not be made to feel guilty. Allen told us shortly about the slave revolt and it was wonderful. That was the main tour and we enjoyed that thoroughly. The forced lecture - not so much! This plantation is closest to French quarter at about it 30 min and the price is acceptable. I would highly recommend it but steer clear of Ms. Julie unless you have an hour or two...

Dissapointing... The tour is very informative to an extent. However, it seems like they are working very hard to avoid talking about certain issues.

The truth is the truth, and when we want to learn about historical events, and lives we cannot AND SHOULD NOT just focus on one part of history and embellish the conversation to avoid uncomfortable feelings.

We could all be a little uncomfortable and talk about the past, so we shall not repeat it. The only way we can understand what others went through and what their lives and struggles were like is by starting the conversation.

Although the architecture and the lives of the privileged few that owned and lived in the property is interesting, it is not the sole historical fact about this place. I think it is a disservice to basically ignore the over 200 "ensalved" [...their word of choice] people that were also living at this house, and who also should have a voice in history.

Edit: You can disagree all you want. I did not miss it. There is no guided tour to the 1811 revolr museum and most people that went in steped in took 3-5 photos and walked right out. Yet again, the effort to this particular part of history was minimal and not comparable therefore my review. There is no conversation about it. It is clearly a missed opportunity and seems like an intentional thing to avoid it altogether. I stand...