Palo Alto Plantation House, Donaldsonville, Ascension Parish, LA

2003 Charles E. Peterson Prize, Entry
Significance: Palo Alto is an Anglo-Creole type Louisiana plantation cottage decorated in Greek Revival style. Its name commemorates a famous battle in the Mexican War, May 8, 1846. The house was probably constructed by Pierre Oscar Ayraud between 1852 and 1860. On stylistic grounds it is believed that it may have been designed by prominent Louisiana architect James H. Dakin (1806-1852). In 1860 the plantation was mortgaged to Jacob Lemann (1809-1887), a German immigrant to Louisiana who arrived in 1836. He was, by 1840, a successful merchant in Donaldsonville. The property passed to Jacob's ownership in 1867, following the Civil War.
Unprocessed Field note material exists for this structure: N924
Survey number: HABS LA-1321
Building/structure dates: ca. 1852- ca. 1860 Initial Construction
Building/structure dates: after. 1950- before. 1960 Subsequent Work