Activites, Camps and After School Classes in Vacherie, LA

St. Joseph Plantation is one of the few fully intact sugar plantations in the River Parishes. In addition to the Manor Home, this historic site features many outbuildings for guests to explore. These include original homes of enslaved people, a detached kitchen, blacksmith’s shop, school house, and chicken coop. Several buildings have been moved to their present day location from other parts of the property, but most remain where they were built. The initial structure of the St. Joseph House was built by the 1830’s and expanded by the 1850’s. The expansion was funded by dowry money that was given to Josephine Aime Ferry by her father, Francois Gabriel “Valcour” Aime. In 1877, Joseph Waguespack purchased the plantation and named it after his patron saint. Later, one of his grandsons purchased Felicity Plantation. In 1901, his grandchildren formed the St. Joseph Planting and Manufacturing Co., LTD. and merged the two plantations.

Explore Louisiana history on a combo tour of St. Joseph and Felicity Plantations, two working sugarcane farms in Vacherie. See preserved plantation houses, original outbuildings including homes of enslaved workers, and the Louisiana Sugarcane Museum with tools and documents highlighting sugarcane cultivation. You may also recognize scenes from films shot on-site. Perfect for history buffs, cultural travelers, and movie enthusiasts.

Step inside the Felicity Plantation House, built in the 1840s, and explore one of Louisiana’s most historic sugarcane plantations. Learn about the history of agriculture, the families who lived here, and the generations of laborers whose work shaped the land. Outside, view preserved cabins that reflect the realities of plantation life. Led by local guides with deep roots in the community, you’ll gain a unique perspective rooted in first-hand knowledge. Felicity is also a celebrated filming location, featured in 12 Years a Slave, the remake of Roots, Netflix’s Mudbound, and WGN’s Underground.

You will hear the personal stories of four generations of a Louisiana Creole family, including personal, authentic stories of the enslaved people that lived their lives on Laura Plantation. You will get to visit the 1805 “Maison Principale”, the gardens, and the original 1840s enslaved cabins where the Louisiana stories of Compair Lapin were recorded. These intimate stories about four generations of free and enslaved members of the Creole families who lived here were gleaned from handwritten memoirs and archival documents from the United States and France. Each story told is a true, personal account of the women, children and men who spent their lives on this sugar farm.