Audubon State Historic Site

Audubon State Historic Site Audubon State Historic Site Francisville, La. The park is located 20 minutes north of Baton Rouge off the Great Mississippi River Road, U.S. Hwy 61. to 5 p.m.

Constructed in 1815, Oakley Plantation rests within the Audubon State Historic Site, a part of the Louisiana Office of State Parks in Historic St. Today 100 acres of the original Oakley Plantation, where artist naturalist John James Audubon stayed in the late summer of 1821 is open to the public. The site is open from 9 a.m. Monday-Sunday. The site includes an interpretive center and guided tours

are offered daily of Oakley House from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the hour. Visitors may tour on their own the gardens, slave cabins, barn and kitchen of the plantation. The park has a nature trail, a covered picnic pavilion with seating for up to 50, and an open picnic area with seating for over 100. Admission for Oakley House and grounds is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and $6 for students. Children 4 year and under enter free. Grounds only admission is $5 per person.

Have you ever spotted a flash of brilliant blue moving through the trees or along the edge of a field? You may have been...
08/14/2026

Have you ever spotted a flash of brilliant blue moving through the trees or along the edge of a field? You may have been looking at one of Louisiana’s most beautiful summer visitors—the Indigo Bunting!

The male Indigo Bunting is hard to miss during breeding season. His feathers appear a deep, almost glowing blue in the sunlight, while females and young birds are a more subtle brown. Interestingly, that brilliant blue isn't actually caused by blue pigment. The unique structure of the feathers reflects and scatters light, creating that incredible blue appearance.

Indigo Buntings prefer brushy fields, woodland edges, and areas where trees and open spaces meet. They feed primarily on seeds and insects and can often be found moving quietly through vegetation.

Keep your eyes open around Audubon State Historic Site—especially along woodland edges and open areas. That flash of blue might be one of our little summer jewels!

🌿 Nature is all around us. You just have to stop and look.
Billy Nungesser Lt. Governor of Louisiana

Come join us as you custom paint garden herb boxes for the kitchen windowsill. We provide all materials and even the her...
08/13/2026

Come join us as you custom paint garden herb boxes for the kitchen windowsill. We provide all materials and even the herbs. a small fee of $12.00 per person is charged for the event, and we are limiting it to 12 participants for this event. We recommend you wear clothes you don't mind getting paint or dirt on. Please call and register at 225.635.3739.
Billy Nungesser Lt. Governor of Louisiana

f you’re lucky enough to spot a Wood Duck in Louisiana, you’ve found one of our most colorful and beautiful ducks!The Wo...
08/12/2026

f you’re lucky enough to spot a Wood Duck in Louisiana, you’ve found one of our most colorful and beautiful ducks!

The Wood Duck is especially at home around wooded swamps, ponds, bayous, and streams. Males are unmistakable, with a glossy green and purple head, bold white markings, a red eye, and a beautiful chestnut-colored breast. Females are more subtly colored, with a distinctive white eye-ring and elegant gray-brown plumage.

🌳 Did you know? Wood Ducks are unusual among ducks because they nest in tree cavities! They can even use old woodpecker holes. When the ducklings hatch, they leave the nest by jumping from the cavity to the ground or water below—sometimes from surprisingly high up!

Wood Ducks feed on seeds, fruits, aquatic plants, and small invertebrates. Their preference for wooded wetlands makes them a wonderful indicator of healthy habitat.
Billy Nungesser Lt. Governor of Louisiana

One of the most recognizable ducks in North America, the Mallard can be found throughout Louisiana, especially around po...
08/11/2026

One of the most recognizable ducks in North America, the Mallard can be found throughout Louisiana, especially around ponds, marshes, swamps, and other wetlands.

The male Mallard is hard to miss with his glossy green head, narrow white neck ring, chestnut-colored breast, and bright orange feet. Females are mostly mottled brown, providing excellent camouflage while nesting.

Mallards are dabbling ducks, meaning they often feed by tipping forward in shallow water with their tails sticking straight up! They eat seeds, aquatic plants, insects, and other small creatures they find in and around the water.

🌾 Did you know? Mallards are highly adaptable and can make themselves at home in natural wetlands as well as city ponds, parks, and farm ponds.

Keep an eye on the ponds at Oakley—you may see Mallards swimming peacefully across the water or hear their familiar quacking from the shoreline!
Billy Nungesser Lt. Governor of Louisiana

Louisiana’s wetlands are an important stopover and wintering ground for some of North America’s smallest and fastest duc...
08/10/2026

Louisiana’s wetlands are an important stopover and wintering ground for some of North America’s smallest and fastest ducks—teal!

Two species commonly found in Louisiana are the Blue-winged Teal and the Green-winged Teal. These little ducks are built for speed and agility, often flying in tight flocks over ponds, marshes, and shallow wetlands.

💙 Blue-winged Teal are easy to recognize during breeding season by the males’ blue-gray heads, white facial markings, and black wings with a bright blue patch. Females are more brown and mottled, helping them blend into their surroundings.

💚 Green-winged Teal are even smaller. Males have a striking chestnut-colored head with a green stripe behind the eye, while females are mostly brown and beautifully camouflaged.

Teal spend much of their time in shallow water, where they feed on seeds, aquatic plants, and small invertebrates. Their preference for shallow wetlands makes them an important part of Louisiana’s rich wetland ecosystem.

Next time you're near a pond or wetland, take a closer look—you might just spot a flock of these speedy little ducks!
Billy Nungesser Lt. Governor of Louisiana

When most people think of the American Robin, they think of springtime. But here in Louisiana, these familiar birds can ...
07/31/2026

When most people think of the American Robin, they think of springtime. But here in Louisiana, these familiar birds can be seen throughout much of the year, hopping across lawns and forest edges in search of earthworms, insects, and berries.

With its warm orange-red breast, dark head, and cheerful song, the robin is one of North America's most beloved birds. While they are famous for pulling earthworms from the ground, robins actually eat a wide variety of fruits, making them important seed dispersers that help forests regenerate.

Did you know? An American Robin can spot worms by watching for tiny movements in the soil rather than listening for them. Their excellent eyesight makes them incredibly successful hunters.

John James Audubon admired the American Robin for its beauty and familiar presence, including it in his monumental Birds of America. Nearly two centuries later, this friendly songbird continues to brighten our parks, gardens, and woodlands.

🌿 The next time you're exploring the trails at Audubon State Historic Site, keep an eye out for a robin pausing on the ground before darting forward for its next meal. You may even hear its rich, melodious song echoing through the trees.
Billy Nungesser Lt. Governor of Louisiana

Often misunderstood, the Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana) is one of Louisiana's most beneficial native mammals. A...
07/30/2026

Often misunderstood, the Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana) is one of Louisiana's most beneficial native mammals. As North America's only marsupial, female opossums carry their tiny, underdeveloped young in a pouch until they are old enough to ride on their mother's back.

These nighttime foragers help keep nature in balance by eating insects, snails, rodents, carrion, fallen fruit, and even venomous snakes. They're also excellent groomers, removing thousands of ticks from their fur each season, helping reduce the spread of tick-borne diseases.

Contrary to popular belief, opossums don't choose to "play dead." When threatened, they can enter an involuntary state that makes them appear lifeless, often convincing predators to move on.

Despite their unusual appearance, opossums are gentle, shy animals that would much rather avoid conflict than start one. If you're lucky, you may spot one quietly exploring the grounds of Audubon State Historic Site after sunset.

🌿 Every creature has an important role in Louisiana's ecosystems—even the humble opossum!

📸 Have you ever seen an opossum carrying her babies? Share your stories or photos in the comments!
Billy Nungesser Lt. Governor of Louisiana

With its brilliant white feathers, long curved orange bill, and bright red legs, the White Ibis (Eudocimus albus) is one...
07/29/2026

With its brilliant white feathers, long curved orange bill, and bright red legs, the White Ibis (Eudocimus albus) is one of Louisiana's most elegant wading birds. These graceful birds are common in marshes, swamps, ponds, and flooded fields throughout the state.

Using their long, curved bills, White Ibises probe the mud for crayfish, insects, small fish, frogs, and other aquatic creatures hidden beneath the surface. Their feeding behavior helps keep wetland ecosystems healthy by controlling insect and crustacean populations.

Did you know? Young White Ibises are not white at all! Juveniles are mostly brown with white underparts, gradually molting into their striking white adult plumage over their first year.

John James Audubon admired the beauty of the White Ibis and included it in his monumental Birds of America. Today, these birds remain a familiar sight across Louisiana's wetlands, reminding us of the incredible wildlife that thrives in our state.

🌿 The next time you visit Audubon State Historic Site, keep an eye on the ponds and nearby wetlands—you may spot one of these graceful birds searching for its next meal!

📸 Have you ever photographed a White Ibis? Share your favorite pictures with us in the comments!
Billy Nungesser Lt. Governor of Louisiana

Address

11788 La Highway 965
Saint Francisville, LA
70775

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm
Sunday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+12256353739

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Audubon State Historic Site posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Audubon State Historic Site:

Shortcuts

Share

Category