Madewood Plantation House
Madewood Plantation House, also known as Madewood, is a historic Greek Revival plantation house and former visitor attraction on Bayou Lafourche in Louisiana.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Madewood Plantation House, commonly called Madewood, is a historic plantation residence on the northern bank of Bayou Lafourche near Napoleonville in Assumption Parish, Louisiana. Built in 1846 for Colonel Thomas Pugh, the house was designed by architect Henry Howard and is regarded as one of the most accomplished Greek Revival plantation residences in the American South. It is also important in the development of Howard's career, being identified as his first major work. The house originally served as the principal residence of a large sugar-producing plantation of approximately 10,000 acres. Its architecture reflects the scale and wealth of antebellum Louisiana sugar production. The two-story masonry structure covers roughly 15,000 square feet and has massive brick walls finished with scored stucco to create the appearance of cut stone. Its principal elevation is organized as a five-bay facade with a six-column Ionic portico, a broad entablature, and a fully pedimented gable. A second-story gallery with a carved balustrade adds to the formal symmetry of the front elevation, while side ells extend the building's domestic and service spaces. Inside, the house contains substantial historic woodwork, much of it made from cypress. Decorative finishes imitate marble, oak, and other valuable woods, demonstrating the period's interest in elaborate painted and faux-material interiors. The grounds sit between Louisiana Highway 308 and Bayou Lafourche and have historically contributed to the property's visual character. Thomas Pugh died of yellow fever in 1852. During the American Civil War, Union troops used the lawns as a hospital, linking the property to the military history of the region. Ownership and agricultural use changed over the following decades. Robert Lee Baker acquired the house and plantation in 1916, when the estate covered about 3,000 acres, including approximately 1,000 acres under cultivation. Harold Marshall purchased Madewood in 1964 and undertook a major restoration campaign that was completed in 1978. The restoration helped preserve the house as an architectural landmark and enabled it to operate as a tourist attraction and bed-and-breakfast. Madewood was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1983, recognizing both its architectural quality and its historical importance. The landmark record also helped correct a later misidentification of a photograph that had been presented as showing Madewood in ruins. The property has had a continuing presence in popular culture. It has served as a filming location for productions including A Woman Called Moses, Sister, Sister, and The Beguiled. It was also used for Aztec Camera's music video for "Oblivious," J. Cole's video for "G.O.M.D.," and portions of Beyoncé's visual album Lemonade. These appearances have given the site visibility beyond architectural and preservation circles. According to the supplied reference material, Madewood was sold to a private owner in June 2026 for more than $1.7 million and consequently ceased operating as a public attraction. The purchaser's identity is not specified in the available material. Its current status as a privately owned historic property distinguishes Madewood from a conventional commercial brand: its recognition derives primarily from architectural heritage, preservation status, cultural representation, and its former hospitality and tourism role.
History
Madewood Plantation House was built in 1846 for Colonel Thomas Pugh, a Louisiana sugar planter, and designed by architect Henry Howard. The residence was constructed as the manor house of a plantation originally spanning approximately 10,000 acres. Its Greek Revival design, imposing masonry construction, formal temple-front portico, and refined interior finishes expressed the wealth and social ambitions of the antebellum sugar economy. The house stands near Napoleonville on Bayou Lafourche. It is a two-story building of approximately 15,000 square feet, built with thick brick walls coated in scored stucco that resembles stone blocks. The front elevation has five bays and a six-column Ionic portico supporting a broad entablature and pediment. A second-floor gallery and carved balustrade complement the principal facade. Side ells create an asymmetrical rear and side configuration while accommodating additional rooms. Much of the interior woodwork is cypress, with painted treatments designed to imitate marble, oak, and other costly materials. Pugh died of yellow fever in 1852. During the Civil War, Union forces used the lawns around the residence as a hospital. The property continued through changing patterns of ownership and agricultural use. Robert Lee Baker purchased the house and plantation in 1916. By that time, the estate had been reduced to roughly 3,000 acres, of which about 1,000 acres were cultivated. Harold Marshall acquired Madewood in 1964 and led a major restoration that concluded in 1978. The work preserved the architectural character of the residence and supported its later operation as a tourist attraction and bed-and-breakfast. Madewood became a National Historic Landmark in 1983. Documentation associated with its landmark recognition also clarified that a photograph sometimes captioned as Madewood in a ruined condition likely depicted another Louisiana plantation, Seven Oaks, rather than Madewood itself. The property has been used repeatedly as a screen and music-video location. Its credits include the television production A Woman Called Moses, the series Sister, Sister, the 2017 film The Beguiled, Aztec Camera's 1983 video for "Oblivious," J. Cole's 2015 video for "G.O.M.D.," and portions of Beyoncé's 2016 visual album Lemonade. These appearances made the house recognizable to wider audiences while reinforcing its identity as a visually distinctive historic setting. The supplied reference material reports that the house was sold to a private owner in June 2026 for more than $1.7 million. It further states that the property stopped receiving the public after the sale. No buyer name or current operating arrangements are provided.
- 2026
Sale ends public operations
[1]The supplied reference reports a June 2026 sale to an unnamed private owner for more than $1.7 million, after which the property was no longer open to the public.
- 1983
National Historic Landmark designation
[1]Madewood receives National Historic Landmark recognition for its architectural and historical significance.
- 1978
Major restoration is completed
[1]The restoration initiated after Marshall's acquisition is completed, helping establish Madewood as a preserved visitor property.
- 1964
Harold Marshall purchases the property
[1]Marshall acquires Madewood and later undertakes a major restoration of the historic residence.
- 1916
Robert Lee Baker acquires Madewood
[1]Baker purchases the house and plantation, then comprising approximately 3,000 acres with about 1,000 acres cultivated.
- 1861
The grounds are used as a Civil War hospital
[1]Union troops use the lawns around Madewood as a hospital during the American Civil War.
- 1852
Thomas Pugh dies of yellow fever
[1]The property's original owner dies during the early history of the residence.
- 1846
Madewood Plantation House is completed
[1]Colonel Thomas Pugh commissions the house, designed by Henry Howard in the Greek Revival style, as the principal residence of a large Louisiana sugar plantation.
Products and positioning
A preserved National Historic Landmark and culturally significant Louisiana plantation house, positioned historically through its Greek Revival architecture, association with architect Henry Howard, antebellum sugar-plantation history, and use as a former tourism and production location.
Heritage tourism
Historic-house tours
Madewood formerly operated as a visitor attraction, presenting its Greek Revival architecture, antebellum history, decorative woodwork, grounds, and association with Louisiana plantation culture to tourists and preservation audiences. The supplied reference indicates that public access ended after the reported 2026 sale.
Hospitality
Bed-and-breakfast accommodation
The historic house was formerly operated in part as a bed-and-breakfast, combining overnight lodging with access to a preserved landmark setting. No current hospitality operation is identified in the available reference material.
Location services
Film and music-video location
Madewood has served as a production location for film, television, and music videos. Its formal facade, landscaped setting, and preserved interiors have supported period, historical, and music-related visual storytelling.
Brand decisions
2026
Sale to private ownershipOtherBackground
Madewood had operated as a tourist attraction and bed-and-breakfast before the reported sale.
Action taken
The property was sold to an unnamed private owner in June 2026 for more than $1.7 million, according to the supplied reference material.
Aftermath
The house was reported to have ceased public operations after the sale. Its preservation status remains historically important, but its current access arrangements are not specified.
Reported sale price. More than $1.7 million (June 2026)
1964
Acquisition followed by preservation-led restorationStrategyBackground
After purchasing Madewood, Harold Marshall took ownership of a historically important but preservation-sensitive residence.
Action taken
Marshall undertook a major restoration campaign, completed in 1978, that preserved the house and supported its later public and hospitality uses.
Aftermath
The restoration helped maintain Madewood as a visitor destination and contributed to its continued recognition before National Historic Landmark designation in 1983.
Recent events
- 2026
Madewood Plantation House sold to a private owner[1]
Other
The supplied reference states that the historic house was sold in June 2026 for more than $1.7 million and was no longer open to the public afterward. The buyer was not identified.
- 2016
Madewood appears in film, television, and music productions[1]
Other
Madewood has been used as a location for productions including A Woman Called Moses, Sister, Sister, The Beguiled, Aztec Camera's "Oblivious," J. Cole's "G.O.M.D.," and Beyoncé's Lemonade.
- 1983
Madewood Plantation House designated a National Historic Landmark[1]
Other
The property received National Historic Landmark designation in recognition of its architectural significance and historical importance.
Sources1 sources
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