The plantation that came to be known as Whitney appears to have been founded by Ambrose Haydel. A German, Haydel immigrated to Louisiana with his mother and siblings in 1721 and married shortly thereafter. Ambrose Haydel and his wife may have lived on the Whitney land tract as early as 1750. By the end of the 18th century, Haydel's sons, Jean Jacques, and Nicholas, owned adjoining plantations which included and expanded upon their father's original holdings. It was apparently Jean Jacques who built the Whitney main house around 1790 and expanded it around 1803. In 1820, he sold the property to his sons Jean Jacques, Jr., and Marcellin. Marcellin eventually gained total control of the rest of the family's land, and commissioned the 1836-1839 remodeling. The plantation remained in the family's hands until it was sold to a Northerner, Bradish Johnson, after the Civil War. It was Johnson who actually named the property Whitney in honor of his grandson, Harry Payne Whitney. The Whitney Plantation Historic District is located at 5099 Hwy. 18 in Wallace, LA. Guided tours of Whitney Plantation are available every day except Tuesdays from 10am to 3pm. Whitney Plantation is closed New Year’s Day, Mardi Gras Day, July 4th, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. There is a fee for admission (no fee for children under 12 and discounts available for groups over 10; Seniors; Students; Active duty serivce; Residents of St. John or St. James Parish). Groups are encouraged to book online or call ahead. Contact Whitney Plantation at 225-265-3300 or visit the website for more information and online booking.
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