Since 1972 the West Feliciana Historical Society’s spring pilgrimage has offered privileged visitors an intimate glimpse into the houses and gracious lifestyles of historic St. Francisville, Louisiana - Audubon’s scenic, unspoiled Happyland. March 15—17 in St. Francisville, the 2019 Audubon Pilgrimage offers historic home and garden tours, elegant soirées and parties, and various other events.
Venerable in its own right, the annual Audubon Pilgrimage has been celebrating spring in Louisiana’s English Plantation Country for forty-eight years. Each year the sponsoring West Feliciana Historical Society opens the doors of significant historic structures to commemorate the tenure there of artist-naturalist John James Audubon as he painted a number of his famous bird folios and tutored the daughter of Oakley Plantation's Pirrie family—Eliza. Highlights of the 2019 Audubon Pilgrimage include opportunities to visit Sunnyside (c. 1838), Laurel Hill Plantation (1830), Brasseaux House (1895), Puente Largo (1850s), and the Coffin House (1903).
Other tour-worthy sites include Rosedown and Audubon State Historic Sites, both of which host special interpretive activities all weekend; Afton Villa Gardens; five nineteenth-century churches; and the Rural Homestead, which hosts lively demonstrations of the rustic skills of daily pioneer life. Tour houses and daytime activities are open daily from 9:30 am to 5 pm, and 11 am to 4 pm on Sunday. Plus old-time hymn singing, graveyard tours, a wine & cheese reception, and Light Up The Night, the popular Saturday evening soirée that features live music and dancing, dinner, and drinks.
For tickets and tour information, contact the West Feliciana Historical Society at (225) 635-6330, or visit westfelicianahistory.org.