St. Francisville, LA
This past Saturday we took a trip to a small town, about an hour south of Natchez, called St. Francisville.  It is a town with a population of less than 2000, but has a rich antebellum history.  There are many well-preserved plantations that are open for touring and also a really beautiful downtown area that has restored homes.  We were lucky to have a nice sunny day so that we could walk all over the town.   St. Francisville was spared during the Civil War, so its buildings exist much the way they did when the town began in the early 1800s.  
Rosedown Plantation:
Rosedown was owned by the Turnbull family, one of the richest families in Louisiana at the time.  Their home and gardens reflected this wealth.  Rosedown now is a state park.

Looking down the alley of live oak trees toward the plantation house.

Looking at the house through the huge garden area

The plantation was large enough (over 400 slaves) that the family employed their own doctor to take care of everyone including the family.  He had his own office on the grounds.

The last person to actually live in the house built this smaller home where she lived until she died.

 

Looking down oak alley from the front porch of the home..we imagine it would be extremely beautiful when the gardens were in bloom.

  The Cotton Plantation
The Cotton Plantation began in the early 1800s.  It has many of its original buildings including some slave quarters.  It is currently lived in by its owners and is used as a Bed and Breakfast.

The Town of St. Francisville
St. Francisville is one of the oldest towns in Louisiana established in 1785 by a grant from the King of Spain.  When the U.S. purchased Louisiana in 1803, West Florida, a section along the Gulf Coast, was retained by Spain.  In 1810 after a brief battle with the Spanish governor, the planters set up their own republic called the Free and Independent Republic of West Florida... "a small, but spunky nation".  After 74 days the U.S. army marched into St. Francisville and claimed West Florida as part of the Louisiana Purchase.  The West Florida flag continues to fly over many houses and businesses in the town.  

This was a store called Grandmother's Buttons.  They had beautiful clothing, art from local artists and jewelry.  The building was originally a bank.  The original counter with metal teller windows was still in place.  The vault served as a button museum. 

A local church surrounded by its own cemetery amid the old trees.