Two historic houses join Natchez Garden Club’s Spring Pilgrimage offerings

Published 8:49 pm Saturday, February 1, 2025

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Editor’s note: This story has been updated to clarify that Chris Bartha is president of the Natchez Garden Club.

NATCHEZ — Frogmore Plantation, located outside Vidalia, Louisiana, and Rosemont, the boyhood home of Jefferson Davis in Woodville, have joined the Natchez Garden Club Spring Pilgrimage.

Natchez Garden Club is observing Spring Pilgrimage in Natchez from March 8 through April 19.

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“Pilgrimage is for the whole City of Natchez and therefore part of our responsibility with Pilgrimage is to benefit the entire city — restaurants and shops, hotels and other forms of entertainment,” said Ginger Hyland, a Natchez Garden Club member and owner of The Towers historic home. “The more houses are open for touring, the healthier our city becomes.”

Frogmore and Rosemont join Choctaw Hall, Dunleith, Ellicott’s Hill, Elms Court, Glenfield, Gloucester, Linden, Magnolia Hall, The Stone House, Sunnyside, and The Towers for Spring Pilgrimage 2025.

Tickets for tours may be purchased through Little Easy Tours or may be purchased at the individual homes. More information about tour times are available at natchezgardenclub.org.

Frogmore Plantation is an 1,800 acre working cotton plantation with 19 restored antebellum structures on site. Part of the tour at Frogmore is seeing its Smithsonian quality historic cotton gin contrasted with the modern cotton gin it operates today to harvest and refine cotton grown on the plantation.

Rosemont, which dates back to 1810, was the family headquarters for the Davis family for five generations. The Rosemont collection contains art, artifacts and photography of the Davis family.

“Rosemont has on display an amazing collection of belongings of the Davis family,” said Chris Bartha, Natchez Garden Club president.

Rosemont owner Percival Beacroft moved himself into one of the other buildings on the estate’s 300 acres so Rosemont could hold those items and have them displayed during tours.

Natchez Garden Club also celebrates Fall Pilgrimage and Christmas Pilgrimage.

“Both of our new properties are going to be open for Fall Pilgrimage and Christmas Pilgrimage, as well,” Bartha said.

“Our houses have a variety of architectural styles and experiences so that you can pick and choose whatever you want to do ideally for a week and never run out of things to do,” Hyland said.

A number of the NGC houses will offer events while on tour. Magnolia Ball, which is the annual presentation of the Natchez Garden Club royalty, is April 5 at Magnolia Hall.

“Magnolia Ball is a community event and is open to the public,” Bartha said.

Choctaw, which is open for tours and operates as a bed and breakfast, hosts a number of events during the year, including a Kentucky Derby tea.

This Spring, The Towers will host twilight tours, beginning at 5:30 p.m. The Towers is known for its exquisite decorations, and this Spring will be dressed for Easter.

Elms Court is expected to present specialty tours this year, which will include the historic  brick stable and carriage house on the property.

During Pilgrimage, Linden, circa 1790, offers Sips and Quips, re-enacting happy hours of old, complete with libations.

Historic Dunleith is also offering an evening tour this year, and offering a cocktail during that tour.

“It’s going to be a good year. We have a lot of enthusiasm among our homeowners and the garden club,” Hyland said.