Audubon State Historic Site

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Audubon State Historic Site Audubon State Historic Site Francisville, La. The park is located 20 minutes north of Baton Rouge off the Great Mississippi River Road, U.S. Hwy 61. to 5 p.m.

Constructed in 1815, Oakley Plantation rests within the Audubon State Historic Site, a part of the Louisiana Office of State Parks in Historic St. Today 100 acres of the original Oakley Plantation, where artist naturalist John James Audubon stayed in the late summer of 1821 is open to the public. The site is open from 9 a.m. Monday-Sunday. The site includes an interpretive center and guided tours are offered daily of Oakley House from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the hour. Visitors may tour on their own the gardens, slave cabins, barn and kitchen of the plantation. The park has a nature trail, a covered picnic pavilion with seating for up to 50, and an open picnic area with seating for over 100. Admission for Oakley House and grounds is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and $6 for students. Children 4 year and under enter free. Grounds only admission is $5 per person.

Long before modern highways and trucks, Bayou Sara served as an important commercial hub for St. Francisville and the su...
10/22/2026

Long before modern highways and trucks, Bayou Sara served as an important commercial hub for St. Francisville and the surrounding plantation country. Situated along the Mississippi River, this busy landing connected local communities with the wider world of river commerce.

During the early 1800s, merchants, farmers, planters, and riverboat crews passed through Bayou Sara. The town's businesses included general stores, cotton warehouses, shipping operations, taverns, boarding houses, and skilled tradesmen who kept the community running.

Merchants sold goods to local residents and plantation families, while commission merchants helped move cotton and other products to market. Taverns and boarding houses provided food and lodging for travelers waiting on riverboats or conducting business.

By the 1820s, Bayou Sara was an important link between the Feliciana parishes and New Orleans. Its river traffic brought people, products, news, and opportunities to this corner of Louisiana.

Today, little remains of the once-busy town, but its story offers a fascinating glimpse into the commercial life of early Louisiana and the communities that grew along the Mississippi River.
Billy Nungesser Lt. Governor of Louisiana

We had a question on why we stopped displaying a tea brick in the dinning room of Oakley. The myth surrounding tea brick...
10/21/2026

We had a question on why we stopped displaying a tea brick in the dinning room of Oakley.
The myth surrounding tea bricks
A common historical misconception is that wealthy plantation families displayed tea bricks as a status symbol. The historical record is more complicated.
- Tea was a luxury commodity. Imported tea connected households to international trade and could reflect their purchasing power.
- Tea bricks were real, but their use varied by region. Compressed tea was especially important in trade across China, Tibet, Mongolia, and parts of Central Asia.
- Tea bricks were not the standard form of tea in most American households. By the 18th century, loose-leaf tea was the more common form exported to Europe. Claims that American households routinely stored brick tea as a mark of wealth can be misleading

To put it simply it was not historically accurate at Oakley.

Billy Nungesser Lt. Governor of Louisiana

Step back into the early 19th century at Oakley Plantation and discover the charming game of Graces, a popular pastime f...
10/20/2026

Step back into the early 19th century at Oakley Plantation and discover the charming game of Graces, a popular pastime for young ladies during the Regency era.

Played with two small wooden sticks and a pair of hoops, the game involved tossing the hoops back and forth between players using the sticks. It required coordination, patience, and a little practice! Unlike more strenuous games, Graces was considered a graceful outdoor activity that encouraged young ladies to develop poise and dexterity while enjoying time outdoors.

Games like Graces offered young women an opportunity for exercise and recreation while reflecting the social expectations of the early 1800s. Imagine young ladies in long dresses gathering on the lawn, laughing as they tried to catch a hoop and send it sailing back to their companion.

At Oakley Plantation, where John James Audubon tutored Eliza Pirrie in 1821, this type of period pastime helps us imagine another side of daily life in the early 19th century.

🎀 History isn't just found in books and buildings. Sometimes, it's found in a simple game played on the lawn!
Billy Nungesser Lt. Governor of Louisiana

" Pumpkin Carving" Evening event at Audubon State Historic Site invites you to our annual pumpkin-carving program on Oct...
10/19/2026

" Pumpkin Carving" Evening event at Audubon State Historic Site invites you to our annual pumpkin-carving program on October 24, 2026, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. We will supply the pumpkins, carving tools, pumpkin pie, homemade apple c***r, and festive fall vibes to welcome the holiday season. Our normal grounds/museum fee applies, and the event will take place in the museum theater. We also recommend wearing clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty. The event is appropriate for all ages and families. Call 225-635-3739 to preregister (preregistration limited to 12).
Billy Nungesser Lt. Governor of Louisiana

On June 18, 1821, John James Audubon arrived at Oakley Plantation to serve as a tutor to the Pirrie family’s daughter, E...
10/16/2026

On June 18, 1821, John James Audubon arrived at Oakley Plantation to serve as a tutor to the Pirrie family’s daughter, Eliza. During his time at Oakley, Audubon created 32 of the bird paintings that would become part of his Birds of America and began several others.

His time at Oakley came to an abrupt end following a billing dispute and an argument that strained his relationship with the young Eliza. In October 1821, Audubon departed Oakley with his artwork, $240 in cash, and a lasting appreciation for the plantation he came to call his “happy place.”

Though his stay lasted only a few months, Oakley left a lasting mark on Audubon’s life and artistic journey. Today, we remember this remarkable chapter in the history of Oakley Plantation and its connection to one of America’s most celebrated naturalists and artists.
Billy Nungesser Lt. Governor of Louisiana

Seasonal cooking! This Saturday from 10:00AM to 3:00PM Join Ranger Matthew in Oakley’s historic kitchen for an ongoing c...
10/15/2026

Seasonal cooking! This Saturday from 10:00AM to 3:00PM Join Ranger Matthew in Oakley’s historic kitchen for an ongoing cooking demonstration that brings the past to life! Watch as he demonstrates early 19th-century cooking techniques using the kitchen’s original fireplace and shares how meals were prepared during Oakley’s early years.
This fall, the demonstration will focus on seasonal recipes that would have been prepared and served at Oakley House, using ingredients harvested from the kitchen garden. Discover the flavors, traditions, and techniques of the past as Ranger Matthew recreates the sights and smells of an early 19th-century kitchen.
Come experience history through the sights, sounds, and smells of Oakley’s historic kitchen!
There is no additional cost for this demonstration. Our usual site admission fees apply.
Billy Nungesser Lt. Governor of Louisiana

10/14/2026

Come and join us the week of Halloween for Mourning Customs of the 19th Century!
We will be talking about the customs of mourning during the time the family lived here at Rosedown. How they mourned, what they wore, and how what started in this time period became traditions today. Hope to see you there!

10/26/26-11/1/26 during the house tours. House tours start at 10am and are on the hour. The last tour is a 4pm. All tours are with a guide and it is $12 for adults 7-61, $10 for seniors 62+, 6 and under are free. The park closes at 5pm.

🌳 Explore the Trails at Audubon State Historic Site! 🥾There’s more to discover at Oakley than just the historic house! O...
10/09/2026

🌳 Explore the Trails at Audubon State Historic Site! 🥾

There’s more to discover at Oakley than just the historic house! Our park offers 1.2 miles of nature trails, giving visitors a chance to slow down, explore the woods, and experience the natural landscape that surrounds this historic plantation.

For those looking for a shorter, more accessible experience, we also have a 1/6-mile ADA-accessible concrete trail that winds through the grounds and around one of our ponds. It’s a great way to enjoy the outdoors at a comfortable pace while taking in the scenery and wildlife of Oakley.

Keep your eyes open as you explore—you never know what you might see! Birds, turtles, frogs, butterflies, and other wildlife all call Oakley home. 🐢🐦🦋

Whether you're here for the history, the nature, or a little bit of both, there's always something new to discover at Audubon State Historic Site.

Come walk the trails and see Oakley from a different perspective!
Billy Nungesser Lt. Governor of Louisiana

Pumpkin Carving at Audubon! Audubon State Historic Site invites you to our annual pumpkin-carving program on October 24,...
10/08/2026

Pumpkin Carving at Audubon!

Audubon State Historic Site invites you to our annual pumpkin-carving program on October 24, 2026, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. We will supply the pumpkins, carving tools, pumpkin pie, homemade apple c***r, and festive fall vibes to welcome the holiday season. Our normal grounds/museum fee applies, and the event will take place in the museum theater. We also recommend wearing clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty. The event is appropriate for all ages and families. Call 225-635-3739 to preregister (preregistration limited to 12).
Billy Nungesser Lt. Governor of Louisiana

**** NOTICE****Unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond our control, we must cancel the Audubon Bird Walk with the Bat...
10/08/2026

**** NOTICE****
Unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond our control, we must cancel the Audubon Bird Walk with the Baton Rouge Audubon Society scheduled for this Saturday at 9:00 AM.

We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your understanding. Our next Audubon Bird Walk will be held in January.

Keep an eye on our page for updates and information about upcoming programs and events.
Billy Nungesser Lt. Governor of Louisiana

Address

11788 La Highway 965
Saint Francisville, LA
70775

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm
Sunday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+12256353739

Website

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