Whitney Plantation is the only former plantation site in Louisiana with an exclusive focus on slavery. Generations of Africans and their descendants were enslaved here to establish and maintain indigo, rice, and sugar crops. Visitors learn about this history through tours, exhibits, memorials, and artwork.
Whitney Plantation educates the public about the history and legacies of slavery in the United States. Visitors to the museum will learn about the history of slavery through a combination of exhibits, an hour and 15-minute tour, and conversations with our staff.
Our Tours
The Exhibits:
Exhibits in the visitor center are free to the public and are open from 9:30am to 4:15pm, Wednesday through Monday.
Permanent Exhibits:
- The History of the Transatlantic Slave Trade
This exhibit is a brief overview about the history of the Transatlantic Slave Trade (TAST). It includes information about how the trade began, which European countries were involved, and where Africans were captured and forcibly migrated along routes of trade that extended both to the west and east of the African continent.
- Slavery in LouisianaWe recommend visiting this exhibit prior to the audio tour.
Focused on the history of slavery in Louisiana from 1719-1865, visitors learn about all aspects of slavery in this state. Including the history of the Code Noir, topics of gender, and resistance & rebellion.
Rotating Exhibit:
- Grass, Scrap, Burn: Life & Labor at Whitney Plantation After Slavery
How did the system of slavery transform after 1865 into a wage working system on the property that became Whitney Plantation? Through first-person accounts and plantation records, this exhibit details the experiences of those who continued to live and work on this sugarcane and rice farm through 1975.
Tours:
We offer both self-guided and guided tour options. Please visit our Plan Your Visit tab to learn more!
Getting Here
Whitney Plantation located at 5099 Highway 18 in Wallace, Louisiana on the west bank of the Mississippi River.
The museum is easily accessible from interstate 10 at the Gramercy exit, number 194. It is located one hour’s drive between Baton Rouge and New Orleans.
Important: Rideshare services (Uber, Lyft, etc.) will bring visitors to the museum, but will often not drive back out to pick up. Please be aware of this issue and plan accordingly.
Admission Pricing
Self-Guided Tour:
Adult: $25
Children (6-18): $11
Age 5 and under are free!
St. James Parish Residents: $15
St. John Parish Residents: Free
Discount Admission: $23
Seniors, Students, & Military
Guided Tour:
Adult: $32
19yrs+
Youth: $15
7-18yrs
Child: Free
6 and under
All prices include sales tax
Museum Hours
Hours:
Hours of Operation
Wednesday through Monday
Visitor Center: 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Tours: 10am- 3pm
Closed Tuesdays and the Following Holidays:
- New Year’s Day
- National Freedom Day (February 1st)
- Mardi Gras Day
- Easter Sunday
- International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade (August 23)
- Thanksgiving Day
- Holiday Break, December 20th- 26th
#1 Thing To Do In Wallace, Louisiana!
We were short on time and could only visit one plantation, and Whitney seemed to provide the best experience. But it was more than an experience. Whitney Plantation is so much more than a tour. It is a pilgrimage. One that I did not know I was taking until I found myself on hallowed ground, walking in the footsteps of my ancestors.
– MsCameronH
I don't know where to start. This was an amazing experience for my son and me. We thought we knew the history of slavery in the US, but we learned so much more. Our guide had just completed her master's thesis on the Haitian slave revolt. She was incredibly knowledgeable and knew how to convey her knowledge in a refreshing, interesting, clear and concise manner. We were cold and being rain on, and she still kept our interest the whole way. I found myself thinking about what she had to say days after we left and telling the story of what we heard to many friends and family members. It really has changed my perspective on so many things.
– Deborah B
Please request Susan. I was hesitant since she was white and this is a plantation tour. However she was PASSIONATE and INFORMATIVE. She spoke from a very informed place, and didn't gloss over the horrors of slavery and how it funded this country's start.
– Chantelle W
My husband and I are well travelled and found the tour guide one of the best we have had in the world. Wonderful, deep, passionate and rigorous depiction of a plantation from a slave’s perspective. If you have to choose ONE plantation visit this is the one!
– Diana G
Visiting the Whitney Plantation was an experience I'll never forget! Its the only plantation museum in Louisiana dedicated to telling the history of slavery from the perspective of the slaves. To hear their stories, see where and how they lived was truly eye opening. Our tour guide Ali was amazing and very knowledgeable. You can tell he is very passionate about his job and sharing this important information with all people especially the younger generations. A must do if ever in Louisiana.
– 4everQila