Whitney Plantation

Whitney Plantation is an immersive historical museum dedicated to telling the history and legacies of slavery in the U.S. Started in 1752 as Habitation Heidel, this historic site was a working plantation for more than 200 years. Operating since 2014 as a non-profit museum, the plantation offers interactive educational group tours tailored to middle and high school students. 

Immersive History Experience 

More than a dozen historical structures and several memorials stand on the grounds, including two original slave cabins that were in use until 1975. Visitors can explore with a guided or self-guided tour of the historic buildings and extensive site. Guided tours are led by trained historical interpreters, many of whom are descendants of enslaved people. The award-winning audio tour comes in six languages and acts as a guide through the plantation’s history.  

Interactive Tours 

Historical interpreters lead guided tours, each with the same core information but through a personal historical lens that shapes the visitor’s experience. Designed for middle and high school-age students, educational tours highlight the history of slavery and its modern-day impacts that continue to shape our world. The immersive tour takes students through the historical grounds and view artifacts from the plantation’s past. Educational tours are designed to cultivate empathy, critical thinking, and a commitment to social justice through interactive, guided discussions. Tours run approximately one-and-a-half hours and are designed for grades 5-12. 

Teacher Tours & Educational Resources 

Teachers seeking a deeper understanding of the history of slavery and its impacts are invited to take a Teacher Tour. These unique tours help educators gain in-depth historical context and participate in discussions on how best to approach classroom lessons. Learn how to integrate these critical stories into thoughtful in-class learning for students. 

Whitney Plantation also provides online resources to help educators prepare students for their trip. The curriculum packet provides teachers with relevant books for children and adults, a list of databases and articles to explore history more deeply, and teaching tools including podcasts, movies, TV shows, and videos on applicable topics. The packet is intended to prepare students for their trip to the plantation. Teachers can also use the materials for lesson plans, curriculum, and other in-class learning opportunities following a visit to the plantation. 

Students and teachers alike can gain a unique educational experience at Whitney Plantation. There is no better place to take a field trip that highlights the history and legacies of slavery in the United States than the place where that history actually happened.