Rosedown Plantation State Historic Site

Rosedown Plantation State Historic Site is a local government office, museum, and tourist attraction located at 12501 Louisiana Highway 10 in Saint Francisville, Louisiana. Situated along a historic corridor in South Louisiana, this site showcases the former plantation of Daniel and Martha Turnbull, one of the wealthiest families in the nation before the Civil War. The main house, furnished with exquisite pieces imported from the North and Europe, was completed in 1835 and remains well-preserved to this day.

The 28-acre formal gardens, a passion of Martha Turnbull, were influenced by the grand gardens of Europe and are considered one of the few privately maintained formal gardens in the United States during the 19th century. The plantation's history also highlights the significant contribution of slave labor during the peak years of cotton production, with as many as 450 slaves working on the estate.

In the 1950s, the Turnbull family sold the plantation, and it was later purchased by Catherine Fondren Underwood, who embarked on an extensive restoration project of the house and gardens. Today, Rosedown Plantation is preserved as a state historic site, with guided tours and programs offered to visitors to showcase plantation life in the 1800s. The site is also listed on the National Register of Historic Landmarks, highlighting its significance in American history.