Due to an outage, the parks phones are not working. Please email the park at CARI_Interp@nps.gov.

Park Telephones Down

The interior of the Oakland Main House is ONLY open to the public on weekends from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. All tours of the house are self-guided and occupancy within the building is limited. Please plan accordingly.

Oakland Main House Self-Guided Tours

The Cane River region is home to a unique culture; the Creoles. Generations of the same families of workers, enslaved and tenant, and owners lived on these lands for over 200 years. The park tells their stories and preserves the cultural landscape of Oakland and Magnolia Plantations, two of the most intact Creole cotton plantations in the United States.

A small cabin sits beneath the branches of a Live Oak in the Oakland Plantation Quarters.

Oakland Plantation Quarters

A raised Creole cottage surrounded by oak trees.

Magnolia Plantation Overseer's House

The sunrise shines through Live Oak trees at Oakland Plantation.

Live Oak Trees

Brick cabins built to house enslaved workers, served as homes for tenant farmers into the 1960s.

Cabins in the Magnolia Plantation Quarters

Two rows of Live Oak trees stretch from the Cane River to the Oakland Plantation Main House.

Oak Allee

This wood screw cotton press was used at Magnolia Plantation to form cotton into bales for market.

Magnolia Plantation Cotton Gin and Press Barn

Cane River Creole

The Oakland Plantation and Magnolia Plantation grounds, trails, outbuildings and visitor restrooms are open daily from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Guided tours and shopping at the park store are available Wednesday through Sunday. The Oakland Plantation Main House is open for self-guided tours only on Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Closed all federal holidays.

Veteran's Day

Thanksgiving

Christmas

New Year's Day

Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Washington's Birthday

Memorial Day

Juneteenth National Independence Day

Juneteenth

Independence Day

Labor Day

Columbus Day

Oakland and Magnolia Plantations

Bookstore and Park Store

A display of items for purchase including toys, water bottles, and cane syrup.

Cane River Creole Park Store

The park store is operated by <a href="https://shop.americasnationalparks.org/store/">America’s National Parks™</a>, an official non-profit partner of the National Park Service dedicated to supporting the educational mission of Cane River Creole National Historical Park. The park store has a wide range of books, media, historical toys, Louisiana specialties, original artwork, and other items available for retail sale. These products complement the interpretive themes you experience when visiting the park. The park store is located at the historic Oakland Plantation Store, or you can visit the <a href="https://shop.americasnationalparks.org/store/">online store</a>. The Oakland store is open Wednesday through Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Visit the park store for park souvenirs, Louisiana specialties, books, original artworks, toys, and crafts.

The park store is open Wednesday through Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Visit the Park Store at Oakland Plantation

African American Heritage

Animals

Architecture and Building

Enslavement

Farming and Agriculture

Plantations

Civil War

Birdwatching

A small Wren sits on a wooden fence post at Oakland Plantation.

Wren at Oakland

Cane River Creole sits in a diverse ecosystem that provides habitat for a wide variety of birds, both resident and migratory. With relatively mild winters, many of these species such as the Northern Cardinal, Mourning Dove, and Blue Jay can be seen year-round, but their numbers increase with migration periods. Others, like the striking Cedar waxwing, are generally only seen in February or early March. It is not uncommon to see hundreds of Red-wings or mixed flocks of black birds in the fields or in the trees along the roads in the winter. The Cattle Egret is more often seen following tractors or, as their name implies, cattle and other livestock as they disturb the ground and stir up insects in their paths. Wading birds like the Great Blue Heron and its close kin the White Egret or Heron are common sights along the river. Visitors interested in birding are encouraged to bring binoculars and enjoy the spectacular views of the many birds in the park from a safe distance!

Cane River Creole provides habitat for a wide variety of birds. Bring your binoculars and enjoy the spectacular views of the many birds in the park.

Bird Watching at Oakland Plantation

Birds

Picnicking

Picnic tables sit beneath a large tree near the Magnolia Overseer's House.

Picnicking at Magnolia Plantation

Enjoy a picnic during your exploration of Oakland or Magnolia Plantations. Picnic tables are located at and around the Oakland Entrance Pavilion and around the Magnolia Overseer’s House. Picnic tables are first come, first served. Never feed wild animals, including birds and squirrels. They may beg, but they have their own food sources. Picnickers are responsible for cleaning up any litter from their picnic site prior to leaving the park. Trash receptacles are located at the entrance pavilion at Oakland Plantation and at the Plantation Store at Magnolia Plantation. Restrooms are available at the Oakland entrance pavilion and the Magnolia Plantation Store year-round. For more information about park rules, see the <a href="https://www.nps.gov/cari/learn/management/upload/CARI_FINAL_Supt-Compendium_2020-2021-2.pdf">Superintendent's Compendium</a>.

Enjoy a picnic during your exploration of Oakland or Magnolia Plantations. Picnic tables are located at and around the Oakland Entrance Pavilion and around the Magnolia Overseer’s House. Picnic tables are first come, first served.

Picnicking at Cane River Creole

Junior Ranger Program

A Park Ranger leads a new Junior Ranger in the Junior Ranger Oath

Cane River Creole Junior Ranger

When visiting Cane River Creole stop at the Oakland Plantation Store to get a copy of the Junior Ranger booklet and become a Junior Ranger today! The Cane River Creole Junior Ranger program includes different levels of activities for children of all ages. Complete 6 activities, as you learn about the history of Oakland and Magnolia Plantations, to earn a Cane River Creole Junior Ranger badge. If you would like to begin work on your Junior Ranger Book before you arrive, please contact us at 318-352-0383, x316 or at CARI_Interp@nps.gov.

Pets on leashes are welcome on the grounds. Pets are not permitted in historic buildings.

The Cane River Creole Junior Ranger program includes different levels of activities for children of all ages. Complete 6 activities, as you learn about the history of Oakland and Magnolia Plantations, to earn a Cane River Creole Junior Ranger badge.

Alert: Park Telephones Down: Due to an outage, the parks phones are not working. Please email the park at CARI_Interp@nps.gov.

Cane River Creole

Overview

Hours

Fees & Passes

Map

Things To Do

Category

Visit the Park Store at Oakland Plantation

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Bird Watching at Oakland Plantation

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Picnicking at Cane River Creole

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Cane River Creole Junior Ranger

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