The antebellum house Cottage Gardens opened its doors to Pilgrimage tours Saturday — for the first time in 30 years. And it seems to have been worth the wait, from the looks on the faces of tourists from as far away as North Carolina, Virginia and Rhode Island.

They craned their necks to get glimpses of furniture dating back to the 1700s and of the house’s unique architecture and interior.

One man pointed to the elliptical staircase, one of only three in Natchez. Two women marveled over the details, from silver to heavy drapes to flowers sitting on antique tables.

“It’s just … spectacular,” Susan McIlwain of Rhode Island said after taking a tour of the dining room, which holds walnut furniture and silver serving pieces, both polished to a high shine.

“It’s beautiful,” said Reggie Blackledge of Collins. “It’s obvious that someone put a lot of time into this.”

They don’t know the half of it, said Betty Jo Krouse, who owns the house with her husband, Jerold Krouse. The house, built in 1794 by Vidalia founder Don Jose Vidal, was restored in the 1960s and was in good condition when the Krouses bought it two years ago, Mrs. Krouse said.

But even a well-restored and clean house needs sprucing up if it’s going to be on tour. So the couple and their housekeeper spent weeks on the details — washing windows, polishing silver and getting fresh plants.

But the Krouses enjoyed the opportunity to show visitors their historical home as well as the furniture and other antique items they have collected over the past 17 years.

“I especially enjoy it if they have an interest in furniture, and even more so if they have a little knowledge about it,” said Mr. Krouse, waiting just inside the front door to greet the next group of tourists and locals.

The house holds such items as Chippendale furniture and antique paintings and mirrors to a 16th-century storage chest and a 19th-century chess set.

Saturday’s tour started at 9 a.m., and at 11 a.m. the steady stream of visitors showed no signs of slowing down.

“And the tour bus isn’t even here yet,”&160;said Mrs. Krouse. But despite Saturday’s busyness, she said that both she and her husband like the chance to show their “dream house.”

Spring Pilgrimage started Wednesday and will last through April 8.