History by Moonlight

Sponsored by Houmas House Plantation and Gardens

Even among the well-preserved, beautiful, and historically rich properties that line the Great River Road, Houmas House Plantation and Gardens has many features that set it apart. The house is among the best preserved in the area; and where previous owners made alterations, Kelly has gently reversed them to reinstate the house’s original form. Some furnishings have a history with the house and have stayed with it through several owners, and everything else has been matched to style to give the effect of a fully appointed pre-war home—excepting the Bette Davis room, which pays tribute to the time the screen great lived in the home while filming camp classic Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlotte. The extensive gardens are another magnificent selling point, treating guests to lavish displays of floral color year-round.

Locals have a special way to enjoy all this. Houmas House is one of only two historic plantations along the River Road to offer evening tours. The house and grounds are beautiful in daylight, but dusk brings another exciting veil of intrigue. Depending on your mood, a nighttime tour of home and property could be either very romantic or delightfully eerie—an unforgettable evening with someone special, or a chance to think that maybe, maybe, the ghosts of history are more than just a figure of speech.

Tours are hourly, with the last one beginning at seven o’clock. Each lasts roughly an hour, so visitors coming from New Orleans, Baton Rouge, or somewhere in between could attend one of the last two tours. The restaurants remain open later, offering opportunities to dine at one of the site's excellent restaurants before heading for home. Or better still, retiring for the night at The Inn at Houmas House.