NEW ORLEANS AIRBOAT FIELD GUIDE
Beneath the Oaks and Into Memory: A Day at Oak Alley and the Whitney Plantation
A 7.5-hour guided outing from New Orleans that pairs Oak Alley's iconic live-oak avenue with the Whitney Plantation museum's focused history of slavery—this guide explains what to expect and why both sites matter.
Beneath the Oaks and Into Memory: A Day at Oak Alley and the Whitney Plantation.
The Double Plantation Tour links two of the Mississippi River’s most resonant sites: Oak Alley, with its long-canopied row of southern live oaks and landmark landscape, and the Whitney Plantation, a museum devoted to the history of slavery in the southern United States whose grounds include the main house, dependencies and commissioned art that foreground formerly enslaved people's stories. Together the stops combine striking landscape, preserved architecture and an explicit, research-driven examination of American slavery.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
Whitney: A Museum Devoted to the History of Slavery
The Whitney Plantation is a dedicated historic district and museum focused on slavery in the southern United States; its grounds include the main house and outbuildings, imaginative exhibits and commissioned life‑size sculptures that give voice to former slaves interviewed for historical projects.
Oak Alley’s 800‑Foot Avenue of Live Oaks
Oak Alley’s signature feature is the canopied alley of southern live oaks—about 800 feet long—planted long before the present house; the avenue runs between the home and the river and defines the plantation’s landscape identity.
Creole House, Dependencies and Preserved Sites
Whitney’s French Creole main house (built 1803) and numerous extant dependencies—including a pigeonnier, a plantation store, surviving slave quarters and multiple archaeological sites—form a complex listed on the National Register and featured on the Louisiana African‑American Heritage Trail.
What the day feels like
What the day feels like
This is a full‑day, interpretive outing from New Orleans: you’ll be picked up from your hotel in the morning, travel along the River Road to visit Oak Alley’s monumental tree‑lined approach and then move on to the Whitney Plantation museum and grounds for a concentrated, research‑based presentation on slavery. The program blends landscape and architecture with museum exhibits and commissioned art, all within an approximately 7.5‑hour schedule.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who this tour suits—practical notes on fit and limitations.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
This outing is a full‑day program; confirmed duration for the tour is 7.5 hours in the provided materials. Confirm pick‑up time and schedule with the operator at booking.
The verified trip materials do not list specific gear requirements; participants should confirm details with the operator before travel.
Operated by Crescent City Tours & Transportation. The provided details state pick up is from your hotel in New Orleans; confirm exact pick‑up arrangements with the operator.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
How long is the Double Plantation Tour?
The tour duration is 7.5 hours.
What age do participants need to be?
The tour is available to participants aged 6 and older.
When does pick‑up occur?
Pick up time for reservations is indicated as between 8:00 am and 8:00 am from your hotel.
Which plantations are visited?
The itinerary includes Oak Alley Plantation in Vacherie (St. James Parish) and the Whitney Plantation near Wallace (St. John the Baptist Parish).
Who operates the tour?
The tour is operated by Crescent City Tours & Transportation.
What is the Whitney Plantation known for?
Whitney is a historic district and museum devoted to the history of slavery in the southern United States, featuring the main house, outbuildings, exhibits and commissioned life‑size sculptures.