| Louis Juchereau de St. Denis founded the first | | | | most renowned residents was Clementine Hunter, a |
| permanent French settlement in the territory later to be | | | | folk artist who recorded life on the plantation in her |
| part of the Louisiana Purchase. As a reward for | | | | paintings. Nowadays the plantation is open for tours. |
| service to some of his men, he awarded them tracts | | | | Two other plantations are open for visitation under the |
| of land along the Cane River. One of the officers | | | | auspices of the National Park Service: Oakland and |
| fathered many children with a woman of color, Marie | | | | Magnolia. The great house at Oakland is under |
| Therese Coincoin, who was a slave. When the | | | | needed reconstruction, but seventeen of the out |
| officer took a wife a problem ensued with his | | | | buildings are accessible. Slaves built these around |
| relationship with Marie. The Commandant of the fort, | | | | 1818. The landscape also features ancient live oak |
| an honorable man, said that the officer had to free | | | | trees, which spread their branches giving shade in the |
| Marie and her children and also provide for them. He | | | | hot Louisiana summers. |
| gave her a tract of land, now known as Melrose | | | | Magnolia's main house is still privately owned and |
| Plantation. Under her astute leadership, the | | | | psoriatic tours are given by the descendents. The |
| plantation prospered. In later years it became a | | | | rest of the buildings are open for visitation: the |
| mecca for artists, writers, and historians, who not only | | | | blacksmith shop, Pigeonier, slave quarters, Gin barn, and |
| worked the fields, but also had to contribute to the | | | | store. |
| cultural development of the community. One of the | | | | |