Also of interest... •  Cane River National Heritage Area Management Plan (.pdf) A plan to promote and preserve the Cane River National Heritage Area, 2003. •  Ethnography of Magnolia Plantation Planning for Cane River Creole National Historic Park, 2004. •   Explore the History and Culture of Southeastern Louisiana A National Register of Historic Places Travel Itinerary. •   Gabe Nargot's Cabin Archeological investigation of a slave cabin at Oakland Plantation. •   Civic Engagement Case Study Discussing the role of slavery in plantation life. •   Special Resource Study The National Park Service evaluates how it will manage the Cane River Area of Louisiana, 1993. •   Nile of the New World Explore the Lower Mississippi Delta Region. •   National Historic Landmark Oakland Plantation designated as a National Historic Landmark, 1980.

The term "Creole" means different things to different people. The term has its origins in the Portuguese language, and historically it referred to New World products out of Old World stock. It is a term inextricably linked to colonialism. African House, Melrose Plantation, Cane River National Heritage Area (Photo: NPS/Historic American Buildings Survey) Although Creole communities exist on several continents, the most widely known Creole communities are those of the West Indies and the southern United States. A commonly accepted definition in Louisiana is that "Creole" is a culture, rooted in French and Spanish Colonialism, that involves adaptations of French, Spanish, African and American Indian people to each other in the New World. Creole culture manifests itself in multiple ways. Louisiana Creole culture is seen in architecture, language, folklore, music, religion, foodways, and other customs. The culture combines European, African, and often American Indian traditions. The ports and trade routes of the area made Louisiana a cultural crossroads and, as a result, the inhabitants of this region were also exposed to additional cultural influences. The architecture and landscapes of the Cane River region in northwestern Louisiana enchant visitors with the flavor of "Creole". For more information about this area and the Cane River Creole culture, visit the following websites: Cane River Creole National Historical Park The two former cotton plantations in this park include 67 historic structures which boast an unparalleled integrity of original documentation, artifacts, and evidence of evolving labor and social systems in the South. Cane River National Heritage Area A predominantly rural agricultural landscape, the area is known for its historic Creole-style plantations and multi-cultural communities and extended families that have ties reaching back 200 years or more to when the French and Spanish ruled the area. Creole Heritage Center A research unit for the academic world as well as the general public, the Center's primary function is to research, document and conserve the history and living traditions of this ethnically mixed population.   collage photo credits: church and river images by Sonny Carter

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