Whitney Plantation, America’s first & only slavery museum - some Django Unchained scenes were filmed here

Whitney Plantation, America’s first & only slavery museum – some Django Unchained scenes were filmed here

Whitney Plantation is a museum devoted to slavery in the U.S. South that is preserved in Whitney Plantation Historic District near Wallace, Louisiana. The museum opened on the plantation property in December 2014.

It was founded by John Cummings, a trial attorney from New Orleans. The grounds contain imaginative exhibits and original art works, such as life-size sculptures of children to symbolize the thousands of children who died while in slavery.

Source Corey Ann FLickr — Source Corey Ann Flickr

It was founded by John Cummings, a trial attorney from New Orleans.Source Corey Ann FLickr — Source Corey Ann Flickr

living history style museum honoring the slavesSource Corey Ann FLickr — Source Corey Ann Flickr

Whitney Plantation is located on the West Bank of River Road in St. John the Baptist Perish and is currently privately owned by John C. Cummings. Source Corey Ann FLickr — Source Corey Ann Flickr

The French Creole raised-style main house built in 1803 is the most important architectural example in the state. In addition, the plantation has numerous extant outbuildings or dependencies, including: a pigeonnier, a plantation store, the only surviving French Creole barn in Louisiana, and slave quarters.

The complex includes three official archaeological sites which have had varying degrees of exploration.

The 1884 Mialaret House, with its associated buildings and property, were added to the plantation by later purchase; they help to reflect the long working history of the plantation. Some of the land is still planted with sugarcane.

Scenes from the 2012 Quentin Tarantino film Django Unchained were filmed on and around the plantation.

The original home on the land is thought to have been built as a raised Creole cottage in 1790 and exdpanded to include Greek Revival influences in 1803 by Amrbose's son Jean Jacques. Source Corey Ann FLickr — The original home on the land is thought to have been built as a raised Creole cottage in 1790 and expanded to include Greek Revival influences in 1803 by Amrbose’s son Jean Jacques. Source Corey Ann Flickr

Whitney Plantation. Source Corey Ann FLickr — Whitney Plantation. Source Corey Ann Flickr

The original works were done by Domenico Canova, a nephew of Antonio Canova, whom was the preferred artist of Napoleon Bonaparte's in 1836 and 1839.Source Corey Ann FLickr — The original works were done by Domenico Canova, a nephew of Antonio Canova, whom was the preferred artist of Napoleon Bonaparte in 1836 and 1839. Source Corey Ann Flickr

The historic district was listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1992. Whitney Plantation is also one of 26 sites featured on the Louisiana African American Heritage Trail.