Ferriday — Frogmore Cotton Plantation will open its gates to locals for free tours Saturday in conjunction with the Civil War Trust sponsored Park Day.

Plantation owner Lynette Tanner said the Frogmore tours would be free and open only at 10 a.m. Saturday to residents with a valid Concordia Parish or Adams County ID. Non-locals can participate in the Civil War tour at regular admission cost — $12 for adults and $5 for children. Volunteers for Park Day should be 12 years old or older.

Since 1996, Park Day has provided educational and community service opportunities at various Civil War, Revolutionary War and War of 1812 parks throughout the nation.

Volunteers come together to help preserve the historical landmarks for the history of the nation, with rakes, gloves and pruning shears in hand.

Tanner said this Saturday is the first Park Day to be hosted at Frogmore, which has been approved by the Natchez National Historical Park superintendent Kathleen Bond.

Frogmore is one of a few working cotton plantations and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The property also features a row of slave cabins.

Tanner said the tour focuses on the Civil War conflicts from both sides of the Mississippi River and how martial law affected plantations.

“These sites are sometimes remote,” Tanner said. “In order to understand the impact the (Civil War) had on the nation, it’s wonderful to view the sites and see the local impact that it had.”

Tanner said Miss-Lou residents and tourists are welcome to pack picnic lunches, lawn chairs and even metal detectors and make their Saturday a meaningful and educational experience at Frogmore Plantation.

The tour will occur rain or shine and is mostly indoors, however, Tanner said participants are welcome to bring their umbrellas in the event of rain.

“If we understand our history, we can make better decisions about our future,” she said.

Tanner encourages attendees to tag @CivilWarTrust and use the hashtag #ParkDay2018 for pictures posted on social media. Contests are being hosted on social media for best Park Day photo, best Park Day video and best Park Day volunteer.

Visitors can sign up or learn more at Civilwar.org/ParkDay or simply arrive at Frogmore by 10 a.m. Saturday.

 

Story by: Sabrina Simms