1208 Museum Drive
Houma, LA 70360
29.58805,-90.740204
In a land that has been historically known as a cultivator of cotton, one must not forget the importance that southern Louisiana had on sugar production, primarily in Terrebone Parish. It is here, in the town of Houma, where one of the more essential plantations that can be credited for its large amounts of sugar production lies.
Southdown Plantation has a long history, dating back to the late 1700's when the property, once owned by the Houma Indian tribe, was obtained by means of a Spanish land grant. Two Cuban brothers purchased the land and began by building a small home on the grounds. The property was then sold to another pair of brothers, Jim and Rezin Bowie who decided to use the near thousand acres of farmland to harvest indigo. This did not prove to be very successful, as the Bowie brothers later sold the property to William Minor in 1831. It is Mr. Minor that truly made Southdown what it is today. After seeing that indigo cultivation was not the route to go, with proper machinery, he began growing sugar cane and producing sugar at an alarmingly successful rate.
