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Magnolia Mound Plantation

2161 Nicholson Drive 
(225) 343-4955
14.79 acres

Magnolia Mound Plantation  Tour Information Calendar Special Events Museum Store Links

Magnolia Mound Hours Mon.-Sat.: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sun.: 1 p.m.-4 p.m. Tours are conducted on the hour from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. Admission is only free to Louisiana Residents on Thursdays from 1-4 p.m.

Magnolia Mound Admission Adults $10 Senior Citizens $8 Students $8 Ages 5-17 $4 Children under 5 admitted free with family   Call for group rates and education tours   Location 2161 Nicholson Drive Baton Rouge, LA 70802 (Between downtown and the LSU campus) (225) 343-4955 information@magnoliamound.org Visit Friends of Magnolia Mound Plantation for more information

Located in Baton Rouge, the capital of Louisiana, BREC's Magnolia Mound Plantation is a rare survivor of the vernacular architecture influenced by early settlers from France and the West Indies. This venerable landmark is unique in southern Louisiana not simply because of its age, quality of restoration, or outstanding collections, but because it is still a vital part of the community. Through educational programs, workshops, lectures, festivals, and other special events, Magnolia Mound's mission is to illustrate and interpret the lifestyle of the French Creoles who formed the fascinating culture which still influences and pervades life in southern Louisiana.

The plantation house, now surrounded by an urban setting, was once the center of a 900-acre operation with frontage on the Mississippi River. The main house was built c. 1791 as a small settler's house and as prosperity came to the lower Mississippi Valley, the house was enlarged and renovated in 1802-05, to become the elegant seat of a major landowner. Spanning the colonial era and early statehood, Magnolia Mound's collection of furnishings and decorative arts include one of the foremost public groups of Louisiana- made objects, in carefully restored and documented settings. The object collection includes locally made furniture from Louisiana's colonial period, as well as French pieces that illustrate the ties of the sophisticated planter with his family in France. Inventory records and accounts from the period indicate that prosperous local planters purchased fashionable Federal-style objects from the eastern seaboard. Decorative art items also include English and French ceramics, crystal and furniture obtained through the major port of New Orleans and locally made textiles. The collection includes objects that help to convey the distinctive taste of this large Catholic family in south Louisiana.

Of the 900 original land-grant acres, we retain sixteen acres. The structures on the property include:

Historic House Museum - The historic house is closed for rennovations.  Guided tours of the house are not offered during the closure; however, the grounds and historic buildings are open for visitors.  The closure is required to ensure the safety of the collection, the structure and the public.  As one of the city's oldest buildings, the historic house again achieved reaccreditation - the highest honor a museum can receive - by the American Association of Museums this April.  To maintain accreditation, the mound must routinely close the museum to the public to coordinate and complete massive facility rennovations. 

This project is also part of BREC's Imagine Your Parks, a project funded by a parish-wide $3.25 million property tax that voters approved in November 2004.  The following improvements are being made to the historic house: installing a new roof and HVAC system; conducting floor repairs; refurbishing all of the paint and wallpaper.  BREC and the Friends of Magnolia Mound Plantation had several nationally recognized historic property experts examine, assess and report recommendations for impovement to the more than 200-year-old historic house. 

Because of the house's age and materials, only specially trained craftsmen can work on the project.  Restoration architect Jerry M. Campbell is overseeing all of the roofers, artisans and engineers that work on the project.  Campbell has played an instrumental role in renovating and restoring several of Baton rouge's treasured buildings, including the Old State Capitl, the Old Governor's Mansion and the Shaw Center for the Arts.  When open, the house is periodically dressed c. 1800-1820 for occasions, such as weddings, funerals, Christmas, Lent and summer. 

Click here for an update on construction at this park

Open-Hearth Kitchen- Reconstructed separate outdoor kitchen is authentically furnished with vintage utensils, such as spider pots, a clock-jack, sugar nippers, waffle iron, olla jar and reflector ovens.

Overseer's House- Original to the plantation c. 1870 and home to the man who was responsible for the success or failure of the plantation's various operations.

Quarter House- A double slave cabin c. 1830 has one living quarter furnished appropriately to the period. The adjoining section contains an exhibit of slave life on a Louisiana plantation.

Crop Garden- Our crop garden contains indigo, tobacco, cotton, and sugar cane in order to depict all of Magnolia Mound's cash crops throughout our history.

Pigeonnier- A small structure c.1825, to house squab and various game birds, featuring a new collection of live pigeons.

Carriage House- A collection of vintage tools, as well as a weaver's workshop that depicts plantation chores c.1800-1820.

Program and Rental Fees

Programs	Fees
Tours:
Adults	$10
Senior Citizens	$8
Students	$8
Ages 5-17	$4
Under 5 with family	Free
Grounds only	$3
Groups (10 or more)	$7
Folk Art and Crafts	$2
Camp Programs:
Summer Day Camp	$110/week
Holiday Camps	$22/day
Facility Rentals:
Individual/For-Profit groups:
The Hart House	$350/4 hrs; $75/add hr
La Grange (barn)	$600/4 hrs; $125/add hr
Site (Hart House, barn back porch, gazebo, and grounds)	$1250/4 hrs; $125/ add hr
Gazebo	$100/2 hrs; $50/ add hr
Non-Profit groups:
The Hart House	$250/4 hrs; $50/ add hr
La Grange	$400/4 hrs; $75/ add hr
Site (Hart House, barn back porch, gazebo and grounds)	$950/4 hrs; $100/add hr
Gazebo	$75/2 hrs; $25/add hr