Natchez Spring Pilgrimage of Antebellum Homes


Spring Pilgrimage March 9 - April 9, 2013
Extended stay events April 10 - 13

Twenty-nine antebellum mansions, most of them private residences, open their doors to visitors during this four-week Pilgrimage every spring. Your guides are costumed family friends and descendants of the original owners, whose stories are as real as the bricks and mortar in their hearths. Each house is unique with 18th and 19th century furnishings, porcelain, silver, clothing, tools, documents and diaries.

Come see why Wendell Garrett, editor at large for The Magazine Antiques, said that 19th century Natchez, Mississippi millionaires "greased the wheels" of American decorative arts and architecture.

Morning tours 9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.  
Afternoon tours 1:30 - 5 p.m.

**Complete Tour Schedules below**

3 House Tours
Adults     $30 per person
Youth     $18 per person (6-18 years)
 
3 House Tour plus Longwood or Rosalie or Stanton Hall
Adults - $42, Youth - $26

All details are for the 2013 season.
2014 details coming soon!
Also visit our 2013 Fall Pilgrimage page.

Explore the back porch at Green Leaves on the Blue or Yellow Tours

Visitors greeted by costumed hosts at Stanton Hall during Spring Pilgrimage.

Inspiring singer in Southern Road to Freedom--gospel story of African American Natchez experience.

Costumes of Natchez Spring Pilgrimage.

Natchez Little Theatre's production of Southern Exposure

Natchez participants in Spring Pilgrimage.

Rosalie, house on Natchez Spring Pilgrimage

Azaleas are in full bloom during spring in Natchez.

Grandest octagonal house in America, Longwood, is part of the Natchez Spring Pilgrimage.

Historic Natchez Tableaux Soiree dancers.

The sweetheart waltz in the Historic Natchez Tableaux.

 Pause/Play 
Antebellum Homes Tours
Privately owned antebellum homes open their doors to the public for 4 weeks.
Buy Tickets

Private Tour Guides
Whether it is your first time in Natchez or your annual trip to Pilgrimage, when you experience Natchez through a private or group tour, your stay in our beautiful historic town will be unparalleled!  Our licensed tour guides have a deep commitment to Natchez history and represent the most experienced guides in the Natchez area.
More Information

Historic Natchez Tableaux
A brilliant and entertaining depiction of the Antebellum Era through song, dance and historical dialog including adornment of period costumes. Presented Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays during Spring Pilgrimage. 
Buy Tickets
 
Southern Exposure
A parody of the Natchez Spring Pilgrimage. This satirical comedy is a very entertaining and humorous depiction of the town of Natchez during Pilgrimage in the 1950's. Presented Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday during Spring Pilgrimage.
Buy Tickets
 
Southern Road to Freedom
The Holy Family Gospel Choir presents this stirring tribute to the struggle and victory of the African American experience in Natchez from the Colonial period to present day.  Presented Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday during Spring Pilgrimage.
Buy Tickets
 

Spring Pilgrimage March 9 - April 9, 2013
Below is a detailed tour schedule.  Each day will include two tours, a morning and an afternoon tour of three homes. The tours occur on a 4-day rotating schedule.
Day 1: Purple/Green    Day 2: Orange/Peach
Day 3: Pink/Blue    Day 4: Yellow/Red
Purple Tour
Homes Open 9:00 am-12:30 pm
on these dates:
March 9, 13, 17, 21, 25, 29, April 2, 6
Magnolia Hall 1858
215 S. Pearl Street at Washington Street
Natchez Garden Club
 
  • Pilgrimage Costume Museum
  • One of the finest examples of Greek Revival architecture
  • Last great mansion built in Natchez prior to the  Civil War
Shields Town House 1860
701 N. Union Street at B Street
W. Samuel Perkins Family
 
  • Beautifully landscaped courtyard and formal gardens
  • Exquisitely furnished
  • Last fine town house built in Natchez prior to the Civil War
Airlie 1790
9 Elm Street
Katie & Terry Freiberger
 
  • Built during the Spanish occupancy
  • Used as a Federal hospital during the Civil War
  • Rough-hewn beams mortised together, old fireplaces, and many small-paned windows with handsome blinds
Green Tour
Homes Open 1:30 pm-5:00 pm
on these dates:
March 9, 13, 17, 21, 25, 29, April 2, 6
Elgin 1792-1840-1855
1 Elgin Plantation Road off Dunbar Road
Dr. & Mrs. William F. Calhoun
 
  • A typical plantation home
  • Unique architectural features adapted for the southern climate
  • Surrounded by 25 acres of informal landscaping, the remains of the original formal garden, and a family cemetery
Richmond 1784-1832-1860
31 Government Fleet Road
John Shelby Marshall Family
 
  • Built in three stages
  • Architecture represents three periods of Natchez history: French Plantation, Colonial, and Greek Revival
  • Features handsome woodwork and original furnishings
Twin Oaks 1832
71 Homochitto Street
Doug & Regina Charboneau
 
  • Originally called White Cottage and enhanced by a succession of owners
  • Furnishings include silver made by present owner's ancestor, Natchez silversmith Emile Profilet
  • A chapel on the property boasts Tiffany windows
Orange Tour
Homes Open 9:00 am-12:30 pm
on these dates:
March 10, 14, 18, 22, 26, 30, April 3, 7
Hawthorne 1814
23 Hawthorne Place at Lower Woodville Road
Mrs. Hyde Dunbar Jenkins
 
  • A Federal style home
  • Outstanding architectural features including four doorways with identical elliptical fanlights and unusually high ceilings
  • Large rooms and broad center halls are furnished with family heirlooms
Routhland 1817
92 Winchester Road
Mrs. Charles E. Ratcliffe Family
 
  • Built as a Federal style cottage for John Routh
  • Stands on a portion of the original Routhland grant
  • Magnificent live oaks, native plants and seasonal gardens surround the house
Linden 1800
1 Linden Place off Melrose Avenue
Richard Conner Feltus Family
 
  • Once the home of the first elected U.S. Senator from  Mississippi, Thomas B. Reed
  • An architectural gem of the Federal period
  • Has been occupied by the Conner family since 1849
Peach Tour
Homes Open 1:30 pm-5:00 pm
on these dates:
March 10, 14, 18, 22, 26, 30, April 3, 7
The Burn 1832
712 N. Union Street
Mr. & Mrs. P. Glenn Green
 
  • Built by John Walworth and one of Natchez' earliest examples of Greek Revival residences
  • Semi-spiral staircase, extensive gardens, and 100 varieties of camellias
  • During the Civil War it was headquarters for the Federal F. McPherson and later a hospital for wounded soldiers
The Elms 1804
801 Washington Street
Esther Carpenter Lowrey
 
  • One of the earliest documented houses in Natchez
  • The two-storied Greek Revival wing was added in 1856
  • Set in a old-fashioned garden and features a graceful cast-iron staircase
Hope Farm 1775-1789
147 Homochitto Street at Duncan Avenue
Mrs. Ethel Green Banta & Family
 
  • Once the home of a Spanish Governor
  • Nestled in lovely old-fashioned gardens
  • Charmingly furnished with rare Natchez antiques
Pink Tour
Homes Open 9:00 am-12:30 pm
on these dates:
March 11, 15, 19, 23, 27, 31, April 4, 8
Auburn 1812
400 Duncan Avenue at Auburn Avenue
City of Natchez
 
  • Designed by Levi Weeks for first Mississippi territory attorney general
  • Famous for enormous portico, columns, cornices and free standing spiral staircase
  • National Historic Landmark
Governor Holmes House 1794
207 S. Wall Street
Mr. & Mrs. Michael M. Cates
 
  • Once the residence of David Holmes, the first Governor of Mississippi
  • Built during the Spanish period
  • Features the brick-between-post construction and picturesque courtyard typical of this period
Elms Court 1837-1840
542 John R. Junkin Drive
MacNeil Family
 
  • One of the most outstanding suburban villa residences in Natchez
  • Contains a family collection of unusual furnishings
  • Of interest are the former terraced garden and an excavated pit used in the 1850's to manufacture gas for lighting the house
Blue Tour
Homes Open 1:30 pm-5:00 pm
on these dates:
March 11, 15, 19, 23, 27, 31, April 4, 8
Green Leaves 1838
303 S. Rankin at Washington Street
Beltzhoover Family
 
  • Richly detailed Greek Revival house and has original furnishings and memorabilia
  • Surrounded and shaded by gigantic legendary live oaks
  • Owned by the same family since 1849
Oakland 1838
9 Oakhurst Drive off Old Pond Road
Kate Don Brandon Green
 
  • The exterior of this house belies the grandeur of the interior
  • High ceilings and carved mouldings
  • A portrait of the present owner's great-great-grandfather, first native-born Governor of Mississippi, Gerard C. Brandon, hangs in the library
Lansdowne 1853
17 Marshall Road
George M. Marshall Family
 
  • Hidden within 100 park-like acres
  • Still occupied by direct descendants of the builder, George M. Marshall
  • One of the most authentic houses in the area with original furnishings and a collection of old silver and Zuber wallpaper
Due to road repairs Lansdowne will be unable to open on some days. Please contact the NPT office for updates and information on hours of tours.

Yellow Tour
Homes Open 9:00 am-12:30 pm
on these dates:
March 12, 16, 20, 24, 28 April 1, 5, 9
The House on Ellicott Hill 1798
211 N. Canal Street
Natchez Garden Club
 
  • Andrew Ellicott raised the first American Flag on this hill in 1797 in defiance of Spain
  • Overlooks the terminus of the Natchez Trace
  • National Historic Landmark
The Towers 1798-1826-1858
801 Myrtle Avenue
Ginger Hyland
 
  • A grand Italianate facade was built in 1858 as a new front to an earlier cottage
  • Exceptional collection of period lace, furnishings, beaded purses and Moser glass
  • Five lush acres of sculpture gardens
Red Tour
Homes Open 1:30 pm-5:00 pm
on these dates:
March 12, 16, 20, 24, 28 April 1, 5, 9
Greenlea 1855
211 S. Wall Street
Mr. & Mrs. Phillip Carby
 
  • Doric portico and fluted columns
  • A fine example of a Greek Revival home with exceptional brick work
  • Original geometric garden
Texada 1792
222 S. Wall Street
Mr. & Mrs. Randy Smith
 
  • Built for Spanish governor Carlos de Grand Pre and used as the Spanish Government House
  • The Mississippi Territorial Legislature met her to organize the State Government in 1817
  • Furnished with American and English period pieces
Selma Plantation 1811
467 Selma Estates Road
Mr. & Mrs. John P. Bornman
 
  • Built by Gerard Brandon, father of the first Mississippi-born governor
  • Architectural style typifies early Mississippi planter's cottage
  • Interior features 18th and 19th century furnishings
  
 
 
 
Monday May 20, 2013