Shadows-on-the-Teche

We really enjoyed this tour. The guide was engaging and we learned both about the family who owned the property and the enslaved who were owned by them. The tour highlighted the realities of living in Louisiana at that time, it didn't sugar-coat anything. It's not a huge house, but it has an interesting history and I would definitely recommend it!

Our guide Dionne was so friendly and her tour was fascinating, We learned so much real history about the home, its' occupants, the town and general history of the area. We are so glad we went!

Wonderful historical site. Learn about the history of the area while experiencing a beautiful plantation.

Updated review: I double checked their website and made sure they were doing tours of the house, and oh my goodness, I highly recommend this. This is not your white washed house tour. A couple of the enslaved were actually named. Dionne was the tour guide and she was very thorough and fair in her tour. I was not expecting such a well thought out tour. Prices are reasonable and everyone was friendly. Original Review: I was unaware they were not doing tours of the inside of the home, but I was allowed to walk around the gardens. There were several artists spread out painting scenes from the gardens and outside of the house. There were several information placards in spots throughout the grounds. One spot where there were graves, it was noted that some slaves passed and two girls who were members of the family passed during a hurricane, but only the bodies of the girls were found. Sad that they did not care enough for the enslaved to find them. When I went, they were having a Plein Air Painting Show, Tell and Sell Event where they promote artists who paint the area. Local or those who travel here. Quite lovely. I am so glad I came. They are expecting to open the house for tours again in the spring of 2023.

Me and my husband went for a tour of the house and gardens. The historian was very informative of the people and the history of the Shadows. Would definitely go again just to experience it. We also had the new executive director on the tour with us. He was so nice and friendly to talk to and it was definitely a boost in the experience having him along for the tour.

This is close to home with my family because this was built by David Weeks, and descendant of my family. My son and others in the family are named David Weeks. The house and grounds are amazing. So much history with house. Cool fact, Walt Disney signed the door used to register close friends and guests. The visitors center across the street has a vedio about the history and nice things to purchase. A guide will take you to the house and gives a room by room tour. Not far of interstate 10 for a nice visit. Highly recommend.

The tour guide was intent upon portraying this family as corrupt and causing in humane Treatment of their slave population. I have been to many plantation tours and learned about slavery in school as well as visits two places like Charleston, South Carolina, New Orleans, etc.. Well, I understand their plight, as much as I can, That was a way of life during that time. Period I don’t appreciate having someone continuing to push it down my throat that these people “were enslaved”, “Owned by others“, “oppressed“. It was as if those in the group who were white were supposed to apologize or feel personally responsible. I enjoyed hearing about the family and their trials and tribulations, but did not appreciate this tour guide. Another tour participant even said afterwards that the Saint Francisville tour was much better than this one. I believe they were not comfortable with some of the comments made by the tour guide, either.

WARNING: Besides our tour guide having a big ring sticking out of her nose and being covered in tattoos, 90% of the tour and bookshop consists of information about "enslaved peoples" on the plantation and what happened to African Americans throughout the 20th century. When speaking about this subject, she went into great detail about the chapters of the Ku Klux Klan, lynchings throughout the country after Reconstruction and laws enacted in by the federal government far past anything to do with the history of the home or its history. The entire inside of the house has almost nothing to do with the original oweners, the building of the plantation, the renovations, and the large construction project that completely altered the back of the home or the production of sugar on the farmland. Do not waste your time and money on the tour. Pay the $10 to tour the grounds because the inside tour is nothing but liberal hogwash. How sad for African Americans and the history of a beautiful home. Take my advice and tour other plantations like Houmas House, Ormond Plantation,Destrehan Plantation and Oak Alley Plantation. Skip this one...