In 1869, the famous American
actor Joseph Jefferson purchased
Orange Island, a peninsula of
Lake Peigneur in New Iberia.
Here, he built the Joseph
Jefferson mansion atop a salt
dome and surrounded it with
acres of lush gardens. Orange
Island is now known as Jefferson
Island in his honor. There are
350 year old oak trees on the
property, and the house is listed
on the National Register of
Historic Places.