Submitted by FHMaster on Sat, 12/17/2016 - 18:13

Oakland Plantation, originally known as the Jean Pierre Emmanuel Prud'homme Plantation, and also known as Bermuda, is a historic cotton plantation in Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana. It is one the nation's best and most intact examples of a French Creole cotton plantation complex[3] It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2001, and is now owned by the National Park Service as part of Cane River Creole National Historical Park.

The plantation is situated on a bend of the Cane River Lake, off Louisiana Highway 119 in the Bermuda community near Natchitoches.

The Oakland Plantation grounds and structures are within the Cane River Creole National Historical Park, in the NPS Cane River National Heritage Area, and is on the state's Louisiana African American Heritage Trail.[2][3] It is a National Historic Landmark, and is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Oakland Plantation is associated with Atahoe Plantation and Isle Brevelle. It is located near the also significant Magnolia Plantation and Melrose Plantation.

The original owners, Jean-Pierre Emanuel Prud'homme and his wife Marie Catherine Lambre Prud'homme, completed building the Oakland Plantation house in 1821. The family tradition claims that Oakland was one of the first plantations to grow cotton on a large scale, cultivated and harvested by slaves. They also had farm animals, that were served by extant buildings, such as the dipping vat, the turkey shed, the mule barn, two pigeonniers, and several chicken coops.

The Prudhommes also owned and operated a general store on the plantation, which also housed the Bermuda U.S. Post Office for many years. The farm flourished in the 19th century.

Oakland Plantation from the highway IMG 3480.JPG       

 

Location
Natchez
State
GeoCoord
31.66500°N 93.00333°W
Owners
Jean-Pierre Emanuel Prud'homme
Founded
1818
Status
Active
NRHP Ref Number
79001073