Joseph Jefferson House

The Joseph Jefferson House, also known as the Rip Van Winkle House and Gardens and the Bob Acres Plantation, is a historic house on Jefferson Island in Iberia Parish, Louisiana, U.S..

Joseph Jefferson House
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Location	Jefferson Island, Iberia Parish, Louisiana, U.S.
Area	20 acres (8.1 ha)
Built	1870 (1870)
Architectural style	Late Victorian
NRHP reference No.	73000867[1]
Added to NRHP	June 4, 1973

History

The house was built in 1870 for Joseph Jefferson, an American stage and silent film actor.[2] Jefferson played the role of Rip Van Winkle in cinematic adaptations of Washington Irving's short story.[2] The house was built with cypress trees on the island, allegedly planted by French privateer Jean Laffite.[2] Jefferson died in 1905, and the estate was inherited by his family.

The estate was purchased by J. L. Bayless in 1917. It was later inherited by his son, J. L. Bayless Jr., who designed the garden.[2]

Architectural significance

The house was designed in the Moorish Revival and Gothic Revival architectural styles.[2] It has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since June 4, 1973.[1]

References

1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. November 2, 2013.
2. "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Joseph Jefferson House". National Park Service. Retrieved July 5, 2018. With accompanying pictures