St. Francisville, Louisiana

INCLUDED WITH YOUR VOYAGE

St. Francisville, Louisiana HOP-ON HOP-OFF TOUR

Remember! Your vacation, your choices. Visit as many or few of the included attractions in St. Francisville listed below at no cost. The town may be “two miles long and two yards wide” but it sure has a plenty to offer!

ROYAL STREET

Take a stroll down historic Royal Street to visit any of the shops or just to admire the beautiful trees and homes. Or stop into Grandmother’s Buttons – a unique boutique that offers jewelry made out of 100-year-old buttons. Inside the store, you can visit the button museum to learn the history of the business and the inspirations of the art.

OLD MARKET HALL

The structure was built in 1819 and has a beautiful open layout. The building is now used as a market center for the town’s local artisans and craftsmen to showcase their products and host their small businesses. Every day is different, you may see anything from jewelry and makeup, scarves and dresses, or snacks and produce!

WEST FELICIANA HISTORICAL SOCIETY MUSEUM

This museum is dedicated to the history, people, and architectures of West Feliciana Parish. Built in 1896 and inside a former hardware store, the Historical Society Museum displays many artifacts, photos, costumes, and articles all portraying the history of St. Francisville. Just across the street, you can stop in one of the fine boutiques and shops!

GRACE EPISCOPAL CHURCH

Built in 1860 and rebuilt in 1893 after the Union caused heavy damage in 1863, Grace Episcopal Church stands tall in St. Francisville. Enjoy a selfguided tour of the church and the grounds and make sure to check out the organ located inside – it dates all the way back to 1860! The church is one of the state’s oldest Protestant churches that still stands today.

MYRTLES PLANTATION

The exquisite Myrtles Plantation is an embodiment of the historic South. Boasting a 125-foot veranda, ornamental ironwork, hand painted stained glass, and other elegant features, the mansion stands in an original state of grandeur similar to the centuries-old live oak trees that encompass it. The gorgeous property inspires immediate feelings of peace. Still, many believe the famous plantation to be haunted. The mystery surrounding the Legend of Chloe has garnered national attention due to a series of photographs that display a translucent figure on the property and subsequent paranormal investigations.

HIGHLIGHTS

ONE FAMILY: TWO PLANTATIONS

Uncover the story of one family that spans across two of Louisiana’s most notable plantations. In 1829, Martha and Daniel Turnbull built Rosedown Plantation, named for a play the couple saw on their honeymoon. Over a century later, you’ll meet one of their descendants, Mary Thompson at Catalpa Plantation. On this exclusive excursion, Mary will explain the deep ancestral ties between the two plantations.

VISIT ROSEDOWN PLANTATION

As one of the most intact documented examples of a domestic plantation complex in the South, Rosedown was established in the 1830s by Daniel and Martha Barrow Turnbull, and remained in the hands of their descendants until the 1950s. Enjoy a guided tour of the great house and gardens. See many original pieces of furnishing in the home, including a handmade tapestry by Martha Washington. Pay close attention to see if you can find the family portrait that is displayed in both Catalpa and Rosedown!

EXCLUSIVE HOME VISIT TO CATALPA PLANTATION

Meet Mary Thompson, descendant of the Turnbulls, at her present home, Catalpa Plantation. Catalpa is one of numerous late Victorian cottages found across Louisiana, significant for the beautiful gardens that surround it. Primarily a cotton plantation, Catalpa’s original house and grounds were devastated during the Civil War. In 1885, William J. Fort rebuilt Catalpa and it is this house that stands today.

END WITH A GLASS OF SHERRY

On your exclusive guided tour of Catalpa, Mary will personally guide you through her charming home. See five generations of exceptional antiques, beautiful china, porcelain, and silver, many of which are original to either Catalpa or Rosedown Plantation. To conclude the tour, Mary will treat you to a traditional farewell with a glass of Sherry on the front porch of the home.

HALF-DAY $79

LIMITED SPACE AVAILABLE. RESERVE TODAY!

St. Francisville Premium Experience REDEMPTION AND REHABILITATION AT ANGOLA PRISON HIGHLIGHTS

THE MOST POWERFUL EXCURSION ON THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER

Prepare to explore the Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola, a maximumsecurity prison, focused on spiritual reform. Once one of America’s most violent prisons, the Angola of today will completely transform your previous perceptions of prisons and inmates. This truly eye-opening and enlightening experience is sure to leave an impact!

VISIT A DEATH ROW CELL BLOCK

Step off the motorcoach for an exclusive tour of Angola’s first and most famous cell block, the Red Hat Cell Block. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the penitentiary’s first cell block was home to the escape artist Charlie Frazer and was the site of eleven executions by electric chair. Hear stories of the prison’s dark past before its unbelievable transformation.

EXPLORE THE FARM LANDS

As we ride through the facility, be sure to observe the crop fields, which are prisoner maintained and are harvested to feed the inmates.

IN DEPTH CONVERSATION WITH A PRISON INMATE

Arrive at the penitentiary’s largest chapel where you will have a once-ina-lifetime opportunity to hear enlightening stories from current inmates. Learn about their journey and transformation into the inspirational and wellrounded people they are today.

ANGOLA PENITENTIARY MUSEUM

After the inmate presentation, enjoy some free time on your own in the museum or gift shop.

HALF-DAY $99

LIMITED SPACE AVAILABLE. RESERVE TODAY!