Louisiana Historical Society Annual Fall Tour
2015 ANNUAL TOUR
Tour of Cajun Country for an authentic Cajun Immersion.
November 21 & 22, 2015. The bus will depart from Metairie Country Day School at 8AM Saturday, November 21 and return Sunday, November 22 at 6PM.
We are heading west for an authentic Cajun Immersion. Our adventure begins at Bayou Teche Brewing (famous for its LA31 beer) for a tour and tasting. Then we will tour NuNu’s Arts and Culture Collective in Arnaudville and be treated to a chef-planned lunch prepared before our eyes by area culinary students from locally sourced products. Over coffee and dessert we will be entertained by a Cajun storyteller.
We will be given a tour the award winning St. Landry Tourist Center known for its green construction and lovely grounds showcasing local plant life.
In Eunice we will visit the Prairie Acadian Cultural Center for a tour of their exhibits, attend their music and dance program and be treated to a tasting.
We will have a Champagne toast at the statue of Eunice before finding our seats in the Liberty Theater. The Liberty Theatre was built in 1924 and is now the home of Le Rendez-Vous des Cajuns, a live radio and TV broadcast. Our show will include two bands: Les Bon Sons and Choupique. Broadcast is in French with enough English for all to understand. We may learn a few new French words and dance steps.
After walking to dinner at Ruby’s Restaurant and Courtyard we will be brought to the Holiday Inn Express in Eunice and “faire do-do” .
Sunday morning after breakfast in the hotel we will head to Jefferson Island to tour the Rip Van Winkle Gardens and John Jefferson Home. Our lunch will be at the Grand Coteau Bistro where the chef is a Culinary Institute of America graduate and a Food Channel Chopped champion.
$250 pp (double occupancy) includes transportation, lodging, tours, admissions, meals, taxes, tips, bar on bus and snacks. Alcoholic beverages in restaurants not included.
Reservations are by check payable to Louisiana Historical Society. Tour is exclusively for members of Louisiana Historical Society and reservations are taken on a first come-first served basis.
Mail to: Nora Wetzel 1623 Peniston St. New Orleans, Louisiana 70115
For questions contact Nora Wetzel at wetzel.nora@gmail.com or 504-451-9646
2012 ANNUAL TOUR
Tour of Bayou Lafourche, Upper Reaches
Saturday, November 17, 2012
Depart at 8:00 AM from 5801 St. Charles via comfortable Hotard coach. Visit Historic Donaldsonville and nearby plantations, cemeteries, and churches. Stop at lovely Palo Alto Plantation where family members will greet us. Tour the elegantly restored Belle Alliance with owners. Gourmet lunch at the Grapevine Café in Donaldsonville with choice of Cajun-Creole Delicacies. Guided visit to National Register listed tombs in Ascension Parish cemeteries. Tour the ca. 1840 home of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Edward Douglas White House in Thibodaux. Visit Historic St. Elizabeth’s Church in Paincourtville. Twilight cocktail buffet and tour at Madewood Plantation, Napoleonville. Return to city by 9 PM.
2009 ANNUAL TOUR
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 13, 2009
8:00 a.m. Depart from 5801 St. Charles Ave. Stop first at the historic 1859 Augustin-Foster House on the Mandeville lakefront, where Mr. and Mrs. Mark Foster will greet us. On the grounds, see the charming 1850s Blossman-Legett-Knipmeyer cottage. Observe the ongoing restoration of the adjacent 1880s REST AWHILE, a former lakefront hotel and later vacation retreat for needy women and children. Next, visit the historic Prieur-Rohrbough cottage, where an 1840s Anglo-Creole house has been indentified under a Craftsman exterior and the owners will greet us. Visit the interesting Paine-Williams House, built for a four-time mayor of Mandeville, now fully restored by Mr. and Mrs. Robert Williams. Just before lunch, enjoy the distinctive, hall-less 1820s Hanissee-Khoury Creole cottage, one of the two oldest houses in Mandeville, owned by Mr. and Mrs. Elie Khoury.
STOP FOR A GOURMET LUNCH at charming Juniper Restaurant, situated in a former 19th century Mandeville bakery. Select from three scrumptious entrees—entrée salad of grilled filet mignon strips and spinach greens, tilapia almandine, or flash fried eggplant pirogue with shrimp, crabmeat, and crayfish in garlic cream sauce. All served with baby greens and candied almond salad, a choice of desserts and coffee, with tea or wine.
AFTER LUNCH, visit the newly-installed Mandeville Trailhead exhibit. Artfully installed in Mandeville’s former New Orleans Great Northern Railroad depot, the exhibit depicts the history of Mandeville since its 1834 founding by New Orleans French Creole Bernard de Marigny. Leaving the Trailhead, enjoy a four-block guided walking/riding tour of ante bellum houses on beautiful Marigny Avenue and the Lakefront. See the 1850s Vial-Meyer and Battier-Juracovich Houses on Marigny, the 1849 Flagstaff and Gourdain-Borne Houses on Lakeshore, the 1830s Tabary-Cortez Cave and Bertus-Ducatel Houses in the succeeding block, and finally the 1850 Feste-Sheen House, an early shotgun with a wraparound gallery. Leaving the Lakefront, ride to Old Mandeville’s historic 1895 Dew Drop Hall, cradle of early New Orleans jazz music. Enjoy a welcome by officers of the Friends of the Dew Drop and watch an illustrated presentation on Mandeville’s history and architecture. Finish the visit with a toe-tapping traditional jazz concert by the Bayou Liberty Jazz Band.
Conclude the day enjoying our traditional Sazerac reception at the historic Dufilho-Poitevent-Clark-Whalen House on the lakeshore. From the broad gallery, watch the sun sink into Lake Pontchartrain as lights begin to twinkly over the waters. During the cocktail reception, stroll down the lakefront to visit 136 Lafayette, a former Acadian farmhouse carefully restored by Ed and Susie Deano. The house is an 18th century bousillage entre poteaux cottage that the Deanos saved and moved in 1997 from Edgard Louisiana to Mandeville.
Return home by 8 p.m.
Felton Suthon 10/31/2009
2008 Annual Fall Tour
One-day tour: River Road to Baton Rouge
November 22, 2008
The 2008 Louisiana Historical Society’s fall tour will be a one-day excursion along the River Road and up to Baton Rouge. Leaving New Orleans at 8:30 am, we will visit and tour the beautifully restored and furnished Destrehan Plantation. Afterwards, we will enjoy a windshield bus tour through the German Coast guided by our very own Jeff Roux, a resident of St.Charles parish. Jeff will lead us to many of the historic old homes and sites of the area, including Fashion and Homeplace Plantations, the Zeringue House, Glendale, Lucy, and Whitney.
After touring the West Bank, we will cross the river on the Memorial Bridge to Gramercy/Lutcher, then head to Houmas House. There we will visit the house and gardens, and enjoy a delicious gourmet lunch at Café Burnside with a choice of wines and entrees.
Leaving Houmas House, we will head to nearby Baton Rouge and visit the lovely headquarters of the Foundation for Historical Louisiana, occupied by nine Louisiana governors. Finally, we will stop at Magnolia Mound for an expert guided tour of the house and outbuildings, followed by a wine and cheese reception. At the close of the long day we will head for home, returning to the city by 7 pm.
2007 Annual Fall Tour
Two-day tour: Layafette and St. Martinville
November 17-18, 2007
The 2007 Louisiana Historical Society’s fall tour will feature Cajun eating and Cajun dancing, plus a village or two. The tour departs from 5801 St. Charles Avenue at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 17, 2007 and returns at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 18, 2007. The tour price will include everything: food, lodging and beverages.
2006 Annual Fall Tour
Two-day tour: Vicksburg, MS and Poverty Point, LA
November 17-19, 2006
The 2006 Louisiana Historical Society’s fall tour will depart on Friday, November 17, at 8:00 a.m. We will stop for lunch along the Mississippi River at Vidalia and then have a tour of Frogmore Plantation – a working cotton plantation. The tour will include the winter quarters. We will proceed to Vicksburg and end the day with cocktails, dinner, and a program on the history of the area.
On Saturday, we will have a driving tour of the Vicksburg Battlefield with a stop at the park’s museum, followed by a tour of the Anchuca Historic Mansion (ca. 1830) and lunch. That afternoon we will visit the McRaven Home (ca. 1797, 1838, 1849), the Belle of the Bend Mansion (ca. 1876), with tour and cocktails at The Corner’s Mansion and finish the day with a tour and dinner at the Cedar Grove Inn.
On Sunday, we will tour the Poverty Point State Historical Site, have lunch at the Archestratus Restaurant in Clinton, Mississippi, and return to New Orleans by 5:00 p.m.
2005 Annual Fall Tour
CANCELLED BECAUSE OF KATRINA
2004 Annual Fall Tour
One-day tour: Grand Coteau, Opelousas, Washington, Port Barre
November 20-21, 2004
Prepared by Ed and Arthemise Gros
The tour will depart from New Orleans at 8:00 a.m. with visits to the Academy of the Sacred Heart and St. Charles Church before stopping for lunch at Catahoula’s Restaurant. In the afternoon we will tour the Weir House/Opelousas Museum of Art, followed up with a bus tour of historic sites in Opelousas and a stop at the Dubisson House before a tour and cocktails at the Arlington Plantation Hous, ending the day with a tour and dinner at the Michel Prudhomme Home . On Saturday, we will have stop at Camellia Cove, Steamboat House, the House on the Hill, and Opera House.
2003 Annual Fall Tour
Two-day tour: Natchitoches, Washington, and Alexandria
November 21-23, 2003
Prepared by Tom and Kit Favrot
The tour will leave New Orleans at 8:30 am Friday, Nov. 21. The first stop will be outside of Washington, La. to see the Seven Brothers Oak Trees that were planted in 1807. We will proceed to Cheneyville La., 16 miles south of Alexandria for a tour of Loyd Hall Plantation that was built in 1850. While there we will be served a light lunch. Next, we will go to about 10 miles south of Natchitoches to Melrose Plantation, built in 1833. It was the home of Clementine Hunter, one-time cook at Melrose and one of Louisiana’s most celebrated primitive painter.
From Melrose we will go into the outskirts of Natchitoches to the Ramada Inn, a full-service motel that will be our home for the next two nights. After checking and an hour’s rest, we go to Oaklawn Plantation House. This is the private home of Bobby Harling who wrote “Steel Magnolia.” It is rarely opened to the public and he has generously offered to open it for us for a tour and cocktails. He and his parents should be there and they have been invited to join us for dinner. This evening will be coat and tie.
After we leave Oaklawn we go by bus to The Landing Restaurant that opened in 1988 and looks out on Cane River Lake. This should be our finest restaurant. Complementary drinks are available. After dinner we board the bus for a short ride to the Ramada Inn.
Saturday morning after breakfast at the Inn, we will begin our tour. Our first stop is not far from the Inn. It is the small Victorian Chaplin House, built in 1892, that is now a B&B. We will leave there for the center of the city where we will walk just a couple of blocks to see the Old Courthouse Museum, built in 1896, then cross the street to the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church built in 1856, then to the rear yard to tour the Bishop Martin Museum built in 1885. Lunch will be the next stop. It is a two-block walk to Lasyone’s Meat Pie Restaurant and Kitchen that was built in 1859. We will have their Meat Pie and for dessert their highly acclaimed Cane River Cream Pie. We will board the bus and proceed a short distance to Fort St. Jean Baptiste. This is a full-scale replica of the French Colonial fort built in 1730 on the banks of the Cane River Lake.
From there we will get back on the bus for a 10 mile trip to Oakland Plantation Cottage built in 1821 and to tour the 44 acres of out-buildings. The main cottage rests on six-foot high brick pillars. Immediately next door to Oakland is Beau Fort Plantation, circa 1790. It is on Cane River Lake and has an avenue of Live oak trees at its entrance. We will return to the Ramada Inn for a rest before dinner.
Dinner will be that Merci Beaucoup Restaurant in the heart of Natchitoches just off Cane River Lake. We will have a private room with an open bar. Dress will be casual. Afterwards, we will return to the Inn.
Sunday morning after breakfast in the Inn and checking out we will leave for the rebuilt Magnolia Plantation Home that was originally built in 1830. It has 17 chimneys and 27 rooms and the complex surrounding the house has 29 out-buildings.
We will have a short bus ride from Magnolia to Kate Chopin House also known as Bayou Folk Museum that was built in 1805. When we leave there we have a 45-minute ride to Kent Plantation, built in 1801, and located outside of Alexandria for a light lunch and tour of the home. When we leave Kent we will drive back to New Orleans and should arrive home at 5:00 pm to complete the tour.
The tour cost includes the entrance fees of all home, the bus and driver, two nights lodging, all meals, tours and tips. Reservations not accepted until October 1. We will pre-order the menus for lunches and dinners. If you have a special dietary request, please let us know at the time of your reservation.
Rooms at the hotel are ordered and are smoke free. If you require a smoking room let Bill Reeves know. There will be no porter service so plan on getting a buddy to help with your luggage. The trip is an all-expense paid tour. No tipping, please. Attendance is limited to 53 people. Space is assigned on a first-come basis, first to previous tour members and then to first-time tour members. All must be members of The Louisiana Historical Society.
2002 Annual Fall Tour
Two-day tour: Natchez and Woodville
November 15-17, 2002
We will leave New Orleans at 2:30 p.m. Friday November 15 and take a bus to Woodville, Ms. As you board the bus, you will be given a name tag. Will you please wear it at all times during the trip (except when you are sleeping)! Our first stop will be the site of Bowling Green plantation and cemetery. We will continue into Woodville for a cocktail party and tour of Rosemont, the home of the only President of the Confederacy, Jefferson Davis. It is owned by Percival P. Beacroft, who is graciously allowing us to use his home for the cocktail party. From there we will proceed to the newly renovated fellowship hall at the St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, built in 1823. An organist will perform briefly for us on their 1837 Erben Organ. Then we will have a light dinner in their Parish House, built in 1884. We then tumble onto the bus for the hop to the Eola Hotel in Natchez for bed.
Saturday morning we will meet for a complete American Buffet Breakfast at the Eola.. After breakfast we will board the bus for a short drive to the Natchez Visitors Reception Center for a 20 minute show, “The Natchez Story,” then we will re-board the bus for home tours. In the morning we will visit Green Leaves, built about 1812; Longwood, the 6-story house begun in 1861, and still not completed; and Landsdowne, built in 1853. Our lunch will be at Kings Tavern, the oldest House in Mississippi, built before 1789. After lunch we will visit Elms Court, built about 1840. After which we will return to the Eola Hotel for a short rest and then dress and proceed to Dunleith, built in 1847, for a tour and a coat and tie dinner. Return to the Eola.
Sunday morning, after an American Buffet breakfast at the Eola, we check out and tour Rosalie which took 7 years to build and was started in 1820. Stanton Hall, built from 1851-1857 in the heart of Natchez, is the finest example of the lavish culture of the South. We will have lunch in the carriage house on the grounds of Stanton Hall. We will leave Natchez after lunch and head to New Orleans with a stop South of Baton Rouge at Longwood Plantation on the River Road before we arrive back in New Orleans for 5:00 p. m.
The tour cost includes the entrance fees of all homes, the bus and driver, two nights, meals, tours, and tips, so leave your wallets or purse at home. Formal notice of the tour and pricing will be mailed to all members in late September. Reservations accepted only after that mailing and only from members. Membership in the Louisiana Historical Society is open to all. See membership form on this site.
2001 Annual Fall Tour
One-day tour: Seldom-seen plantations and other places
November 17-18, 2001
Arranged by Thomas B. Favrot, with a lot of help from the private home owners of the area
Saturday, November 17
* Oaklawn Manor House outside of Franklin, LA.
* Avery Island, Tabasco factory, Jungle garden, and private home. Lunch catered by Clementine Restaurant from New Iberia, dessert will follow at Virginia McIlhenny’s home, Deer Run.
* Konriko Rice Mill and Country Store.
* Alice/Fuselier Plantation, built in 1796, now a private home and bed & breakfast.
* Shadows-on-the-Teche for cocktails and a tour of the house.
* Clementine Restaurant for dinner.
* Comfort Inn in New Iberia for the night. Phone 1-337-897-0855.
Sunday, November 18
* Complete American buffet breakfast at the Comfort Inn
* Steamboat House, built in 1882, was given its name because of the ornate balustrades and décor. It is owned by Mrs. Kimble Daigle.
* Albania Plantation is one of Louisiana’s largest. Now privately owned, it was once owned by the City of New Orleans who received it from the original owner.
* Enterprise Plantation was built by Simon Patout as early as 1830. We will tour the several old homes, inspect the sugar mill, and visit with Robert and Judith Patout.
* Bayside Plantation was built in 1850 by Francois Richardson, a classmate of Edgar Allen Poe.
* Southdown Plantation was built by William H. Minor. It remained in the family until 1923. It is now owned by the Terrebonne Historical and Cultural Society.
* Return to New Orleans by 5:15 p.m.
1999 Annual Fall Tour
One-day tour: Seldom-seen plantations and other places
November 13-14, 1999
Arranged by Thomas B. Favrot, with a lot of help from the private home owners of the Franklin, Louisiana area
Situated on the route of the Old Spanish Trail and along a dramatic bend in the romantic Bayou Teche, Franklin, Louisiana was recently named in the top 100 small towns in America. Its concentration of some of the finest antebellum homes in the South was important to its designation. The Franklin Historic District contains over 420 noteworthy structures and was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. Although early Franklin settlers were French, Acadian, German, Danish and Irish, many were also English, unusual in Southwest Louisiana. A testimony to Anglo-Saxon influence is the beginning in 1830 of services by Louisiana’s fourth oldest Episcopal congregation and the establishment in 1847 of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church. This will be our first stop, with a film presentation, coffee, snacks and a tour of the church.
During the Civil War, Confederate forces under General Richard Taylor fought Union troops under General Nathaniel Banks in the Battle of Irish Bend outside Franklin. Four hundred men were killed or wounded during this significant battle, through which Taylor’s forces successfully stopped a drive by Union forces to invade Texas. Franklin has produced five Louisiana governors, including the incumbent Murphy J. Foster, Jr.; along with four United States Senators, a Chief Justice of the State Supreme Court, and a Lieutenant Governor. Franklin is also the boyhood home of Jefferson Davis, president of the Confederacy.
The tour is designed for Society Members to renew friendships and visit some interesting Louisiana places. We have arranged for an overnight stay in Franklin, with a tour of private homes and meals at the three best restaurants in the parish. The tour group will meet at 5801 St. Charles Avenue at 7:45 a.m. and leave at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 13. The tour will return promptly at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 14. We will visit eight beautiful private homes all built before 1859. Their owners have promised to be with us. We will have a cocktail party at Shadowland and will tour the Wendell Williams Aviation Museum.
We have overnight accommodations at the Best Western Forest Motel. You will have to bring your own luggage to your room or get another traveler to help. Sunday morning there will be a light breakfast will be served in the motel.
The last two years’ trips were smashing successes. Seats went fast, leaving some unable to make reservations.
