Do plantations still exist in the South?

Yes, many plantations still exist in the American South, but their function has shifted; some remain private estates or working farms (like Evergreen Plantation), while many others are historic sites, museums, or tourist attractions (like Boone Hall or Whitney Plantation), often preserving the antebellum mansions but confronting their history of slavery through tours and exhibits, though how honestly they present this history varies.

Are there any southern plantations left?

Few plantation structures have survived into the modern era, with the vast majority destroyed through natural disaster, neglect, or fire over the centuries.

What is the oldest plantation still standing?

Shirley is the oldest family-owned business in North America, dating to 1638 when Edward Hill I established a farm on the banks of the James. Today, the 800 acre plantation is still home to the 10th and 11th generations of the Hill-Carter family.

Are plantations still used today?

Yes, plantations still exist, but their function and appearance have transformed; many historic antebellum plantations in the American South are now museums, B&Bs, wedding venues, or tourist attractions, while modern large-scale farming operations also use the term "plantation" for commercial crops like oil palms, although the historical context of slavery is largely absent from these contemporary uses.
 

Who owns plantations now?

Many plantations are owned by the original owners' descendants and still provide income and profit to families who gained wealth through enslaved labor.

VISITING LAUREL VALLEY PLANTATION| Slave Quarters| Thibodaux, LA| Slave Houses|

What were white slaves called?

"White slaves" historically referred to Europeans captured by North African pirates (Barbary corsairs), or more commonly in the Americas, to indentured servants from Europe (Irish, English, German, etc.) who traded years of labor for passage to the New World, though this system often devolved into actual slavery, with terms like "Redemptioner" used for those paying off passage after arrival. In the 19th/20th centuries, the term also described forced prostitution, known as "white slave trade", not indicating race but forced sexual exploitation. 

What is the biggest plantation in the US?

The largest remaining antebellum plantation house in the U.S. was Nottoway Plantation in Louisiana, a 53,000 sq ft mansion built by enslaved people, but it was largely destroyed by fire in May 2025, making it a significant historical loss, though some other large properties like Shirley Plantation (oldest family-owned) still stand.
 

How did female slaves deal with their periods?

Enslaved women managed menstruation using traditional herbal remedies, plant-based knowledge passed down through generations, and cultural practices, often to control fertility and resist forced reproduction, using things like sage tea, cotton root (carefully, as it was dangerous), and aloe to regulate cycles, induce periods, or prevent pregnancy, while also using moss, rags, or corn cobs for absorbency, all while enduring brutal conditions that made managing periods difficult but essential for survival and autonomy, according to historical accounts and WPA interviews. 

What U.S. state has the most plantations?

While many Southern states had plantations, Louisiana is often cited as having the most historically significant concentration, especially for sugar, with many famous estates lining the Mississippi River, but Virginia and Mississippi also had vast numbers and large enslaved populations tied to large plantations, particularly for tobacco and cotton. The sheer number of historic sites today spans the entire South, with states like Georgia, South Carolina, and Alabama also key areas for plantation development. 

Are there any slaves still living today?

According to the latest Global Estimates of Modern Slavery (2022) from Walk Free, the International Labour Organization and the International Organization for Migration: 49.6 million people live in modern slavery – in forced labour and forced marriage. Roughly a quarter of all victims of modern slavery are children.

What happened to old slaves on plantations?

Although some planters manumitted elderly slaves who could no longer work, most elderly slaves remained on plantations with their families, and their masters were expected to provide for them until they died.

What is the most famous plantation?

The most famous plantation is often considered Oak Alley Plantation in Louisiana, renowned for its iconic alley of oak trees and use as a filming location for movies like Interview with the Vampire, though others like Boone Hall (Charleston) and historical sites like Whitney Plantation (slavery focus) are also very well-known for their distinct histories and appearances.
 

What is the most haunted plantation in Louisiana?

The Myrtles Plantation in St. Francisville, Louisiana, is widely considered the most haunted plantation, famous for its tragic history, enslaved people's stories (like the ghost of Chloe), reported murders, and numerous ghostly sightings, making it a popular spot for ghost tours and overnight stays. Other contenders for "most haunted" include the infamous LaLaurie Mansion (though a mansion, not a plantation) in New Orleans and the Oak Alley Plantation, known for its spectral residents and tragic past. 

Did any plantation treat slaves well?

However, although some slave owners were less cruel than others, nearly all were obsessed by the need to keep slaves from stealing their property, running away or rising up in rebellion . So even the most mild-tempered slave owner would use physical punishment as part of plantation discipline.

How much is 1 acre of cotton worth?

An acre of cotton's value varies, but recent data suggests a gross revenue around $1,000 to $1,900+ per acre, depending heavily on yield (850-1200+ lbs/acre) and price (around 60-90 cents/lb), with costs (seed, fertilizer, labor) potentially ranging from $400 to over $900, leaving profits from roughly $200 to $400+ per acre, making it a profitable crop but with significant investment.
 

What race was enslaved for 400 years?

The race enslaved for approximately 400 years in the Americas, beginning with the forced arrival of Africans in Virginia in 1619, were people of African descent, specifically those from various regions in West and Central Africa, who were subjected to racialized chattel slavery. This brutal system forcibly brought millions of Africans to the New World, establishing a legacy that profoundly shaped American history, culture, and racial dynamics for centuries. 

Did white people work on plantations?

In the first half-century after the crop was first planted, most Chesapeake tobacco plantations were cultivated by indentured white indentured servants alongside a few Native Americans and a small minority of black laborers, whose default status was enslavement.

Which state had the least slaves?

The state with the fewest enslaved people depended on the time period, but Massachusetts (including Maine) had zero enslaved people according to the 1790 Census, while Vermont banned slavery in 1777, making it the first to eliminate it, and by 1860, Utah had the lowest percentage of slaveholding households among states that allowed slavery. 

Do people still have plantation weddings?

Plantation weddings are incredibly common here in the South and are a ridiculously polarizing topic. I want to begin this post right off the bat by stating that as wedding florists, we do not accept inquiries for weddings that take place on a site with a documented history of enslavement.

What age did girls get their period in the 1800s?

In the 1800s, girls got their first period (menarche) much later than today, with averages ranging from around 16 to 18 years old, significantly later than today's average of about 12 years old, largely due to poorer nutrition and harsher living conditions which delayed puberty. Factors like improved diet, sanitation, and medicine caused this age to drop steadily throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. 

How do Amish deal with periods?

Amish women manage periods using traditional, reusable methods like cloth pads (often homemade rags) for absorption, similar to historical practices before modern disposables, focusing on resourcefulness and cleanliness by washing and reusing them, while also relying on family planning through calendar-based fertility awareness to avoid pregnancy, reflecting their simple, faith-based lifestyle. 

Were female slaves allowed to marry?

While acknowledged by their community and often those who enslaved them, marriages among enslaved people were not recognized or protected by the legal system, as enslaved people were considered property in the eyes of the law. As a result, enslaved people were unable to enter into legal contracts such as marriage.

Was there a real Candyland plantation?

No, Candyland from Django Unchained was a fictional plantation created for the movie, but its exterior was filmed at the real, historic Evergreen Plantation in Louisiana, which is a preserved working sugar cane plantation with original slave quarters. The interior of Candyland was built on a soundstage in New Orleans.
 

Who owns the biggest house in Louisiana?

While the single largest private residence in Louisiana isn't definitively named in recent records, the historic Nottoway Plantation (now a hotel) is the biggest mansion at 53,000 sq ft, and among private homes, televangelist Jesse Duplantis built a massive ~35,000 sq ft home in Destrehan, though Shane Guidry's Metairie mansion is noted as Louisiana's most expensive (around $16.9M).
 

What is the oldest plantation in America?

The oldest plantation in America is Shirley Plantation in Charles City, Virginia, established in 1613 and continuously owned by the same family (the Hill-Carters) since 1638, making it the oldest family-owned business in North America and the oldest continually inhabited plantation in English America. It's a significant historical site that has survived major American conflicts and offers a unique look into colonial life and the early economic development of the New World.