This Oakland property dates back to a 1789 Spanish land grant, made to Jean Pierre Emmanuel Prudhomme. With the plantation's great success, Prudhomme's land holding greatly expanded along the Red River. Aptly named the Oakland, this plantation home was built in 1821 and grew typical crops of tobacco, rice, sugarcane and cotton. During the 1800s, the plantation followed mainstream southern growers, where cotton was king and their largest cash crop.
     Today, the Oakland Plantation home and its out-buildings are part of the Cane River Creole National Historic Park, managed by the National Parks Service. The 27 buildings within this site included what would makeup a small community. Once home for 104 slaves, the park contains their cabins, carpenter shop, general store and post office, a doctor's cottage, and an assortment of farm buildings, all included in a self guided tour.
     The plantation was passed down through the generations and a portion is still in operation today. This National Historic Landmark is found on Louisiana Route 494, 12 mile south of Natchitoches.