Reflections of Tara

Many Southern plantation houses have been featured in movies or on TV. Plantations began in the early 17th century when the British offered large tracts of land. Most settlers inhabited the South, and their vast properties eventually became plantations.

Belle Meade Plantation is located in Belle Meade, Tennessee. Visitors can learn about the history of the plantation, based on real-life experiences from the Harding and Jackson families and the women and children who worked in the plantation. A unique guided Segway tour takes visitors through the arboretum and the fields. Officially it is known as Belle Meade Historic Site and Winery. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Belle Meade was once home to some of the finest horses and is often referred to as the “Queen of the Tennessee Bluegrass.” Today, it serves as a museum, winery, and event venue that showcases the rich history of the estate.

Destrehan Plantation was established in 1787 and is the oldest antebellum plantation home in the Lower Mississippi Valley. The mansion was built in the French Colonial style with elements of Greek Revival architecture. In the 19th century the plantation was a major producer of indigo and later sugarcane. Period crafts such as dyeing with indigo, candle-making, and open-hearth cooking are demonstrated on most days. It is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Houmas House Plantation in Burnside, Louisiana, has appeared in several films, such as “Hush Sweet Charlotte,” and some TV shows. (pictured above) The plantation is surrounded by beautiful gardens. On-site are three restaurants.  It is a historic plantation complex and a house museum. The plantation was named after the native Houmas people who lived in the area. The complex includes eight buildings and is on the National Register of Historic Places. At one time is was a working sugarcane plantation.

Jarrell Hill Plantation in East Juliette, Georgia, dates back to 1847. At one time the plantation had 42 slaves working in the cotton fields. The plantation includes a steam-driven sawmill, slave quarters, and a cotton gin. The plantation is located in the red clay hills of the Georgia piedmont and is a National Historic Landmark.

Montpelier is the historic home of the US Fourth President James Madison and his wife, Dolley. It is located in Orange County, Vermont. Here Madison came up with the idea of an enduring legacy of a government for the people. The plantation has a great view of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The property has exhibits like the 1910 train depot that looks at the African American struggle for civil rights and offers detailed stories of enslaved people as told by their descendants. Today it is a National Historic Landmark. Visitors can explore the walking trails winding through horse pastures, wildflower meadows, and forests, including the old-growth Montpelier Forest.

Oak Alley Plantation is a historic plantation located on the west bank of the Mississippi River in James Parish in Louisiana. It is known for its oak alley with a double row of southern live oak trees planted in the early 18th century. The plantation is a National Historic Landmark. It was used as a filming location for the 1994 Gothic horror film “Interview with the Vampire” as well as other films.

Pebble Hill Plantation is located in Thomasville in southwest Georgia. The lovely house has crystal porcelain furnishings. The surrounding grounds are filled with magnolias and longleaf pines. Onsite is a dog kennel, a historic cemetery, and brick horse stables. It is a museum and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Rose Hill Plantation is located in Bluffton, South Carolina. It is an antebellum house named after the owner, John Rose, in the early 1800s. The main house has a Gothic Revival style. It is surrounded by majestic magnolia trees, lush natural greenness, and exotic wildlife. Amenities include a swimming pool, a large playground, a tennis court, and a golf course. It is on the list of National Historic Places.

The Hermitage is the home of the US Seventh President Andrew Jackson. It is a National Historic Landmark in Davidson County in Tennessee, east of downtown Nashville. This is also the final resting place of Jackson. At one time the Hermitage enslaved men, women, and children to work the cotton fields. The Hermitage is one of the largest open spaces in the urban Nashville, Tennessee, area.  Self-guided tours and costumed interpreter-led tours are available.