St. Francisville, Louisiana

Of all the dozens of lovely and tragic plantations I visited, I loved this one best with its outbuildings, beautiful oak-lined gardens and 100-acre parkland. Built in 1806, the Oakley Plantation predates the classic revival style with the simplicity and dignity of late Federal Period design. John James Audubon lived here as a teacher for four months in 182l where he managed to collect, prepare, sketch and paint 32 bird specimens.