February 26, 2021 - (Flyer) Cane River Creole National Historical Park will host two separate memorial illumination events to remember and honor the people who were enslaved on Magnolia Plantation and Oakland Plantation as part of Black History Month. The Magnolia illumination will take place on Saturday, February 27, and the Oakland illumination will take place on Saturday, March 6, 2021.
The FREE illumination events and self-guided tours will begin at 6:30pm and end at 8pm. The tours will be outdoors, will cover about a half mile over uneven and unpaved ground, and will occur rain or shine. Participants are encouraged to bring a flashlight and dress appropriately for weather and walking conditions. Oakland Plantation is located at 4386 Highway 494, Natchez, LA. Magnolia Plantation, which can only be accessed from LA Highway 1, is located at 5549 Highway 119, Derry, LA.
The institution of enslavement and the act of emancipation have left indelible imprints on many aspects of Cane River life, and the park has been working for many years to uncover the stories of all the people that lived on the two plantations. The process was a long one, and one that is still ongoing. Each luminary represents an enslaved man, woman, or child. Groupings of luminaries reflect a moment in time in the plantation’s history. Luminaries will be marked with the names, ages, places of origin and skills of the enslaved individuals when possible. This information has been retrieved from original archives.
The grounds of Oakland and Magnolia Plantations are open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Nearly 80 original buildings remain, many open for self-guided tours including several that are historically furnished from Wednesday through Sunday. Park staff conducts tours of the plantation grounds daily Wednesday through Sunday. In addition, the park offers a cell phone tour. The Oakland Main House is open for self-guided tours from 10am to 2pm on Saturday and Sunday. The Magnolia Main House is privately owned and is not open to the public. For more information, please visit the park’s website at www.nps.gov/cari, find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/canerivercreoleNPS or call the park at 318-352-0383, ext. 316.
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