The Old Town Still Stands

October 22-27, 2013

From a relatively young town (Vicksburg) to the oldest town on the Mississippi River was to be our next stop. Natchez Mississippi was established in 1716 and is the oldest continuous settlement on the Mississippi River. They have more than 500 Pre-Civil War structures. As you wander around you get to see them and how they have been restored.

We set up camp at the Natchez State Park for a couple of days. The view from our park spot was trees, birds, deer and water. Pretty peaceful spot!

 

We ventured into town looking for the visitor center. Along the way we found a few older structures.

 

Steve and Izzy at Texada

 

Restored

 

Waiting for Love

Once we left the visitor center we drove to the Under the Hill location of Natchez. This is where most of the town was established back in the 1700’s but today only a few businesses are there. But you have a view of the river.

Mississippi River View from Under the Hill

 



We also found both golf courses in the area and we decided to play the oldest one first. This course was established in 1916 and the land it sits on was part of the Auburn House Plantation which was owned by Dr. Duncan beginning in the mid-1820’s.

The 1916 Circa Course

Getting Ready

The other golf course is fairly new and is nestled south of the town with some large new properties surrounding the fairways. I think the 1916 course was kinder to us!

 

The Beauty of the Newer Course

We toured the Auburn House one morning. The tour guide was great and the information he gave you about the house, contents, and owners was great. One of the phenomenal architectural items in the house is the suspended spiral staircase. Now remember this house was built in 1812 and to design a staircase that is not anchored is pretty amazing.

Auburn 1812 

The Guardian in the yard

The Suspended Spiral Staircase

The View from the Top

The Library

Is Dinner Ready?

The Master Bedroom

 

 Elegant

 

Tea and Cake Time

Where their Servants Once Lived

 

The tour guide suggested a couple of other things we should check out so we took his advice. One was seeing a photo gallery display with 100 year span of photographs of Natchez and the people. This was pretty interesting to see. The other was to take a carriage tour of the downtown historic area. This way you get a tour guide, a nice ride in a carriage, and a horse named Mal!  We couldn’t resist.

Meet Mal

Scooby Snack

Our tour guide’s name was Vicki and she was great. The knowledge of the buildings and the families she shares is well worth taking the tour. One of the places she said we should go see was St. Mary’s Cathedral.

 

Vicki and Mal

Simple but Wonderful

Framed

Inviting

Living in History

The Intricate Fence

The Natchez Jail

The William Johnson House

National Park Service Landmark

 

After the tour we headed to St. Mary’s Cathedral. In 1837 Natchez was designated the See of the Roman Catholic Church in Mississippi. In 1842 Bishop J.M. Chanche began construction of this structure, the only church built as a Cathedral in Mississippi. We took quite a few pictures due to the beauty and peace inside the Cathedral and wanted to share a few with you.

 

St. Mary's Cathedral



 

Another place they advise you to go see when you are in this area is the Emerald Mound. The history of Natchez includes Native Americans as well as a long history of slave trading. The community has done a wonderful job capturing the history along with the National Park Service.

The Emerald Mound is the second largest ceremonial mound in the United States. It was used from 1300-1600 by the Mississippians, ancestors of the Natchez Indians.

 

The Emerald Mound

The Mound

 



After the state park we stayed along the river for the rest of the time while in Natchez. The view is always wonderful along the water and the walks in the morning with Izzy are refreshing. We also happened upon this ship passing by one day when we got back from touring. It is the Delta Mariner and is an interesting shaped vessel. Steve had to find out about this ship so he went to his trusty friend Google. He discovered that it transports aeronautical parts along the Mississippi and Ohio rivers and probably has carried some of the parts used in the shuttle missions. The interesting thing about this ship is that to see it on the river was extremely rare as it only comes by twice per year.

Our View

The Delta Mariner

 

Our time in Natchez was wonderful but Izzy was ready to move on since she didn’t get to go swimming. She did however get to chase the squirrels. That put a smile on her face!

Getting Ready to Roll

See you in a few days from New Orleans!

 

 

Civil War Explored

October 18-21, 2013

 

I have to start this section with I think my Mom would have thoroughly enjoyed this and she would be proud of me. You see Mom was quite the history buff and I wasn’t so much but have learned to take an interest. I think I can contribute that to both my Mom and Steve. Steve is like a little sponge and soaks up the history of not just Lewis and Clark but also the battles and the Civil War era.

Since our trip has followed the Lewis and Clark trail, we figured we should follow some of the Civil War components as well. Besides it keeps us travelling along the Mississippi River which does give us a chance to do more fishing and Izzy more swimming!

The scenic route offered a variety of crops and beauty as we traveled from Memphis to Vicksburg Mississippi.

Soybeans abound

Cotton is king

Cotton Bails Instead of Hay Bails

 

 

Our first stop during our stay in the area was the National Park Services’ Vicksburg National Military Park. We toured the Union section one day and the Confederate section the following day.

To begin the journey you have to see the Visitor Center and take in the film. From there you begin the journey through time. The one thing you realize when you start looking at everything is how they were able to accomplish what they did to begin with that many years ago. They used what was available to them to build areas for protection and ability of surprise. The photos we took will give you an idea of the cannons, protections for the battle, other points of interest and the tributes that you observe through wonderful makes of art from the states that had soldiers fighting for both sides. Enjoy this small array of photos from the journey.

 

A Battlement

1862

A Young Hero

A Leader

Remembering with Art

 

The Louisiana Redan

 

Carrying the Flag

A Tribute

 

 

The Shirley House

Inside the House

Marking the Shirely's

Getting More Troops

Well Deserved Recognition

Grant

 

Made from Brass

Made from Iron, no not Steve

Missouri Remembers Their Own

One of the Smaller Guns

 

Remembering the Battle and Sacrifices

 

 

 

 

The Soldier

 

Marking the Site of Surrender

 

Majestic

The Park also contains the USS Cairo which was a Union iron-clad gunboat that sank on December 12, 1862 from two quick explosions that tore holes into the ship. The ship was recovered years later and contained information about naval construction, naval stores, armament, and crew's personal gear which is now displayed in the museum.

 



The Iron Protects



A Spider Taking Advantage

The Damage

 

Taking Aim

 At the end of the journey there are two plaques with statistics from this battle. The campaign, siege and defense of Vicksburg Mississippi took place from March 29 to July 4, 1863.  The Confederate South total numbers of killed, wounded and missing were 9,091 and the Union were total was 10,142. The National Cemetery located here includes the soldiers killed from this battle but also soldiers from other wars.

Iowa Fallen Soldiers

Final Resting Place

The River below the Cemetery

Vicksburg is such a historical place that every place you look you see buildings that were built in the early to mid-1800’s. This church is just one example. We celebrated my birthday during our time here but thank goodness I'm not quite that old yet!

 

We did venture to the Old Court House Museum. The Court House was completed in 1858 and was used during the war and the Union troops raised the Stars and Stripes on July 4, 1863, signifying the end to the 47-day siege of Vicksburg.

The Court House

The pictures will give you a small glimpse of what the museum contains. If you want to step back in time and are in Vicksburg, come visit their museum. You will be taken back to the 1800’s for sure!

 

 

The Court Room

 

Besides being good history students, thank goodness there wasn’t a test, we did find time to play a round of golf. The course was beautiful and the staff quite helpful. They guided us on the number 5 hole so our tee shots would be in the proper spot to approach the green. For you non-golfers out there this was really helpful and probably considered insider trader. Oh well I will take all the help I can get!

Izzy enjoyed herself too and got to get out and run some along the murals that are painted on the wall by the levee. Apparently when she was done running she decided it was okay to go take a swim. I guess we can’t blame her since it was pretty warm.

I'm Ready to Go!!!!!

Remembering Life Along the River

The School

The Sprague Mural

The Old Depot Along the River and Mural Walk

 

We decided to go check out the National Park Services' Grant's Canal dedication before we were leaving the area. The idea was actually pretty smart but the bad part is that heavy machinery hadn't been invented yet so they were digging the canal by hand in the summer heat. No wonder they didn't get it completed.

 

The Battle Strategy

 

 

Canal Remnants

 

 

Remembering Connecticut Volunteers

 

To continue our learning journey we left Vicksburg and headed to Natchez Mississippi. Well it wasn’t necessarily about the Civil War history but about following along the river.  See you in Natchez!