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The Audubon Pilgrimage 2009, March 20, 21, 22, will give visitors an intimate view of five historic houses spanning the early years of the 19th century and the early years of the 20th, two fully restored 19th century gardens, a recreated Rural Homestead which celebrates the lives of country folk, plus historic churches and St. Francisville’s Historic District. An Evening Soiree, authentic 1820’s costumes, Maypole-dancing children, all celebrate the time when John James Audubon was in West Feliciana painting at least eighty of his famous Birds of America.
The building of the earliest house, Rosebank, was marked by a traveler in 1808 who noted that “John O’Connor is building himself a fine house”. The beginnings of Oakley, where Audubon tutored the daughter of the house in 1821, occurred a few years later. Rosedown and its 27 acres of gardens was built in 1834 by planting aristocrats whose parents were settlers. The gardens of Afton Villa commenced in 1848 to surround the flamboyant Gothic mansion which burned in 1963.
On the outskirts of St. Francisville, the oldest town in what are called the “Florida Parishes”, is Wyoming, whose 200 acres belonged to the last antebellum governor of Louisiana, Robert C. Wickliffe. In the Royal Street Historic District is found the Fairview Town House vibrant with gingerbread added by E. L. Newsham the son of a former Union soldier. The Cabildo, the first West Feliciana Parish Court House, circa 1809, will display the artworks of latter day Audubon and parish native Murrell Butler.
Also, three Historic Buildings will feature an Antique Show and Sale.
The houses and gardens are significant architecturally, and the lives of those who lived in and tended them in the past are endlessly interesting. It is their stories who make the Audubon Pilgrimage the historic event it has been for the past 38 years. For more information visit the website at
www.audubonpilgrimage.info or call 225-635-6330, Monday through Friday, 9 am to 5 pm or 225-635-4224 on weekends.