Destrehan Plantation is hosting it 17th annual Spring Heritage Day on Wednesday, May 2. This event will be held on the plantation grounds 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., at 13034 River Road in Destrehan. Public, parochial, private and home school students and teachers are invited to make a heritage connection at this educational event. Students will learn about the life of the enslaved, as well as the life of the planter and his family.

Many folk life demonstrations representing the jobs of the enslaved laborers such as open hearth cooking, herbal healing of Early African Americans, black smithing, spinning, bousillage construction, weaving, wood carving, quilting, candle making, moss mattress making, indigo dyeing, carpentry, brick making and pottery can be observed at this event. These skills were so necessary to maintaining a self-sufficient life on a plantation in early Louisiana. 

Also included are a Civil War encampment, doll making, instructions in calligraphy, vintage music and dance, antique toys and bee keeping. This event is open to the public as well as students. Admission is $7 for students and adults. A tour of the plantation house is also available for and additional $5. Students will also learn about the history of Destrehan Plantation and the major role the site played in the history of our state and the U.S.

It is sponsored by the River Road Historical Society, Azby Foundation, River Region Arts & Humanities Council, Shell Chemical, St. Charles Art Guild, the New Orleans Weavers guild, Louisiana Extension Service of LSU Ag Center and the River Region Arts and Humanities Council.

For more information and to register call Angela Matherne, Heritage Education Coordinator, Destrehan Plantation, 985-764-9315 or email   destreheritage@aol.com.