| Have you ever watched Gone with the Wind and | | | | "can't miss" houses in Natchez. Rosalie is notable |
| wished you could go back in time for just a few | | | | for its pure beauty overlooking the Mississippi |
| days to live among the oaks at Tara Plantation? | | | | River. Longwood, however, is often cited as |
| Well the closest you will ever come is an annual | | | | visitors' favorite home....despite the fact that it |
| event in Natchez, Mississippi known as Spring | | | | was never finished! Dr. Haller Nutt was in the |
| Pilgrimage. The Pilgrimage, an annual open-house of | | | | process of building Longwood, set to be the |
| around 25 antebellum mansions, began in 1932 as | | | | nation's largest octagonal home, when the Civil |
| a way of generating income to keep the property | | | | War broke out. Most of the craftsmen working |
| taxes paid and the homes maintained. These are | | | | on the home were from the north. As soon as |
| not just any old homes, however; these homes | | | | they learned that the war had started, they laid |
| are the cream of the crop of pre-Civil War | | | | down their tools and paint brushes where they |
| grandeur. | | | | were and fled north. The family lived on in the |
| After returning recently from my seventh trip to | | | | home's basement (the only floor out of six that |
| the "Gone with the Wind" holy land of Natchez, I | | | | was ever completed) during and after the war. |
| decided I really should take time to encourage | | | | Dr. Nutt died after the war of illness, though |
| you to make plans to visit the charming town. | | | | legend has it that he never overcame the |
| The town actually hosts two annual pilgrimages, | | | | disappointment in being unable to finish his fabulous |
| one in spring and one in fall. The spring pilgrimage | | | | mansion, a mansion which became known as |
| is a larger event, but both offer the chance to | | | | Nutt's Folly. |
| see different mansions than are not open year | | | | *Try an evening show! Four different shows are |
| round. | | | | offered on various evenings during Pilgrimage. The |
| I love visiting Natchez any time of year, but | | | | Historic Natchez Pageant is a time-honored |
| pilgrimage does offer some events that are only | | | | tradition presented by over 200 local performers |
| available during that time. There are ten incredible | | | | wearing antebellum costumes and presenting little |
| mansions in Natchez that are open all the time. | | | | vignettes of Natchez history. It is small town |
| However, an additional 18 or so homes open only | | | | tradition at its finest. You can also see Southern |
| during pilgrimage. These homes are very special | | | | Road to Freedom; Southern Exposure; and Songs |
| as most of them are private residences. There is | | | | of the South on alternating evenings. |
| something very special about meeting a lovely | | | | *Enjoy fine dining. The Carriage House Restaurant |
| lady, dressed in full southern belle attire, and | | | | is a fabulous lunch restaurant behind the exquisite |
| having her show you around a home that has | | | | Stanton Hall mansion in the heart of town. |
| been in her family for six or seven generations. | | | | Carriage House is known for its tiny buttered |
| You will feel as if you are time traveling as you | | | | biscuits and reasonably priced southern fare. The |
| walk through grand arched doorways into the | | | | Castle is a world class restaurant on the grounds |
| rarified world of the old, genteel south. | | | | of Dunleith, yet another columned mansion (which |
| Here are some tip for making the most of | | | | also serves as a bed & breakfast) in Natchez. |
| Pilgrimage in Natchez: | | | | The food and ambience are both amazing. Finally, |
| *Pay special attention to the tour schedule. Realize | | | | don't miss the opportunity to have a prix fixe |
| that the houses are grouped together into | | | | evening meal at the chef's table at Monmouth |
| 3-house groups labeled by color. For example, the | | | | (another world class bed and breakfast.) |
| "Pink Tour" will include three particular houses that | | | | *Take a carriage ride. A modest fare around $15 |
| are on tour in the morning on one day, then off | | | | per person will land you a half-hour tour on a |
| three days, then on again. Then another tour, the | | | | horse-drawn surrey with a knowledgeable guide. I |
| orange tour, will operate in the afternoon. There | | | | like to start my visit off with this type of tour to |
| are a total of 8 tours, so it takes 4 days to take | | | | get an overview of the town's history. |
| all the tours. So if you would like to see all of the | | | | *Frogmore Plantation. If time permits, consider a |
| homes, or if there is a certain home you feel you | | | | short 10-mile trip across the river into Louisiana to |
| must see, be sure to check out the pilgrimage | | | | Frogmore Plantation. Frogmore Plantation has been |
| website to find out which day the home is on | | | | selected by Rand McNally as a "Must See Site." |
| tour. If you do have time, plan on spending a full | | | | Frogmore contrasts the 1800's working cotton |
| four days; you will find plenty to do! A 3-home | | | | plantation to today's mechanized plantation and gin. |
| tour costs $24 per person or $18 for children | | | | At Frogmore, guests have the opportunity to pick |
| (6-13). | | | | their own cotton, a big hit with my daughter! |
| *Take advantage of the add-on house tours for | | | | Don't miss your chance to time travel while |
| Rosalie and Longwood. These homes are open | | | | visiting historic Natchez, Mississippi any time! Be |
| year round. However, instead of the usual $12 per | | | | warned, however, the history and hospitality are |
| person for entry, you can add them to any color | | | | addictive. You may find yourself returning time |
| tour for $10 each. Both of these houses are | | | | after time urging others to do the same! |