Oakland Plantation House (Gurley, Louisiana)

Oakland Plantation House, located near Gurley in East Feliciana Parish, Louisiana, is a historic plantation house notable for its architectural significance and association with the history of plantation life in the antebellum South. The house is a two-story, frame structure built in a Creole style. Characterized by its broad galleries, prominent hipped roof, and a symmetrical facade, Oakland Plantation House exemplifies a distinctive regional architectural style.

The plantation itself was primarily agricultural, focusing on crops typical of the region, such as cotton. The house served as the residence of the plantation owner and his family, and the surrounding land provided the economic foundation for their lifestyle.

The property is significant not only for its architecture but also for what it represents about the social and economic systems that defined the antebellum South. While the main house reflects the affluence of the planter class, it is important to acknowledge the forced labor and exploitation of enslaved people that underpinned the plantation's operation and contributed to its wealth.

Oakland Plantation House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Its preservation is important for understanding Louisiana's history, including the complex and often difficult narratives surrounding plantation life, architecture, and the legacy of slavery.