Pigeonnier at Magnolia Plantation, Cane River Creole National Historical Park

Keeping pigeons was a status symbol on Creole plantations. The practice was imported to America from France, where prior to the French Revolution in 1789, keeping pigeons was restricted to royalty and the nobility (pigeons themselves were brought to American from Europe in the 1600s). However, raising pigeons was not a frivolous hobby of the rich. Believe it or not, pigeons (particularly baby pigeons) and their eggs were once considered culinary delicacies, not to mention their poop could be used for fertilizing the flower garden.

The birds were kept in pigeonniers, the French word for what is essentially a pigeon house, or dovecote. The more ornate the pigeonnier, the wealthier the owners. Pigeon houses are still a status symbol today. In the Creole areas of Louisiana, the wealthier families often build brick pigeonniers on their property, though most are just fancy storage sheds and are not used for keeping pigeons.

Historians believe the pigeonnier at Cane River Creole National Historical Park’s Magnolia Plantation was built somewhere between 1840 and 1855. It certainly was on the grounds by 1858, which is the first time it shows up on a map of the property. However, it was originally in another location and moved to its current location by the landowners. It is in poor condition and thus not open to the public.

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