In Louisiana, many reconstructed mansions allow to experience the lifestyles of the past, the era of rich plantations of the South. This was the period of slave labor in the cotton and sugarcane fields, which brought enormous profits and wealth of the slave owners. In the south of the United States slavery was a legal institution and the foundation of the local economy. Slaves were the property of their owners until their death. Slaves could be sold transferring ownership to a new buyer, but according to the law they could not be abandoned or killed. The acquisition of a new slave in general was not cheap and prices varied depending on many factors such as age, gender, work experience, skills etc. So called house slave who had responsibilities such as cleaning, cooking serving meals or caring for children could be worth twice as much as other performing regular work in the field. Young experienced adult carpenter had quite a high value on the market. On the other hand elderly female not able to bear children could be worth even less than the baby. How much were slave actually worth? In todays money it could be as much 160,000 USD, or even more for the most valued slaves. Price average was probably in the range of about 70 to 100,000 dollars.
