Destrehan Plantation tour aims to give view of history through a different lens
On Friday, Destrehan Plantation will host a special evening tour titled, “Unheard Voices of the German Coast,” focusing on the lives of the enslaved, free Afro-Creoles, German farmers, and Acadians that lived alongside plantation owners years ago.
Unheard Voices’ co-founder Dianne Honore’, a Destrehan family descendant, will lead the tour.
Cost is $39.99 and includes tour admission, wine, and cheese. The tour begins at 5:45 p.m. Among subjects touched upon on the tour are food, music, slavery, Catholicism, and Voodoo.
Proceeds from the tour benefit both Unheard Voices of Louisiana, an LLC whose mission is cultural education and Destrehan Plantation, a non-profit organization.
The tour is highlighted by a group of people playing the roles of the slaves of yesteryear, with an eye cast upon giving tour-goers a window into history from a different point of view.
“Those who attend can expect a unique tour experience,” said Honore, who wrote the tour script with co-writer Ronnie Schumann. “(Schumann) and I give the tour but there will be other living history characters for visitors to meet. It’s also an interactive tour at certain points where the audience participates. The bottom line is an accurate historical account of early settlers of Louisiana presented from a different perspective which will make it more an experience than a tour. They will also enjoy a wine and cheese reception and chat with the guides and characters.”
Honore and Schumann are both descendants of Louisiana’s early settlers. She said her family ties to the area is what sparked the desire to dig deeper into life in Colonial Louisiana.
“We are both passionate about that history,” she said. “I am a Destrehan descendant in particular and this makes it all the more special to me. This is a labor of love for both of us to say the least.”
She believes lending a voice to those traditionally “unheard” through the retellings of history is important because it presents a counterpoint to what she feels is too often a one-sided story.
“Giving our ancestors voice today is very important because it teaches us who we are and where we came from,” Honore said. “Even in today’s tour markets you find many one-sided stories or stories that haven’t evolved in years. If you’re constantly doing research you’ll find that often these same histories will change or become more in depth as you discover more information. This leads to a greater understanding of our past and sheds light on our heritage today.
“We are serious about shedding light on the truth and opening a path for the ancestors to be heard. Louisiana history would be told inaccurately from one perspective be that enslaved, free, European or Anglo. We embrace all of our history and present it more like a kaleidoscope than a microscope.”
To make reservations, call Honore at 504-266-9483.
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