MAGNOLIA HALL and THE HISTORIC NATCHEZ TABLEAU

A night of rest and we are revitalized to continue the touring! 
We began with Magnolia Hall, named for the plaster arabesques of magnolia leaves and blossoms that adorn it's ceilings.  Many Natchez Garden Club volunteers were on hand to explain each of the rooms.  

Magnolia Hall

Audrey at back view of Magnolia Hall

This Greek Revival style built in 1858 was constructed of brick, but stuccoed, painted brown and scored to imitate the brownstone so popular in the North.  Fortunately an inventory of the furnishings of the Henderson family had been made giving later owners and the Garden Club who own it now, an exceptional idea of what it contained. Over the years it became a rooming house and a private Episcopal school, with original partition walls being removed.  In 1976 it was deeded as a gift to the preservation arm of the Natchez Garden Club, which completed the restoration as you see it today.  Many items were sold off or removed over the years will probably never be found, including all but two of the fireplace mantels and the chandeliers. 

Here you see the gardens, probably designed by the garden club.

 

 

From this tour we went on to lunch at the Pig Out Inn downtown, for some luscious pulled pork sandwiches and fries.  The sandwiches were so large that we had to take half of them home for another meal.

We ate sitting at tables made from old wood paneled doors, while watching the gal behind the counter shredding the pork.  It was tough to know where to set your plate to make sure that it did not tip!!  But well worth it.

We did go home for a rest in the afternoon because we had tickets for the two hour Historic Tableau, hosted by the two Garden Clubs of Natchez, at 8 pm that evening at the Natchez City Auditorium. 


Natchez City Auditorium

Our view of the stage, not bad seats!

Main entrance.

 

The tableau, originally, the very first Pilgrimage events of the 1930s, included a series of scenes, each depicting an event prominent in the life and culture of the South before the Civil War.  The tableau uses music, dance, narrative and acting by local men, women and children.  Children often move up through the acts over the years of their young lives.  Of course, that is why they do such a lovely job!!

Steamboat at Natchez Under-the-Hill bringing their dance troops and opera singer.

 

                                                                



The Maypole Dance with children weaving the colored ribbons.

While the little ones do their Maypole dance on stage.

 One scene depicted the famous wedding of the only Confederate President, Jefferson Davis, to a 17 year old Natchez lady, Varina Howell.  However, my picture of that was not good!!   Next is the young men and women at a typical soiree as held at Jefferson College, one of the oldest educational institutions of the South.  

 

 

 

Queen and King of the Natchez Tableau are presented.

 

The Great Hunt.

Natchez Indian story is told.

The story of the African Americans in this area was also told.  Again, no good picture!!
It really was a very lovely program and so well presented.  I think that Gary was amazed to have enjoyed it. We came to realized that there was a ball after the program for the locals, as they were very dressed up!   It seems that this is a very important presentation for this community every spring.  They do the presentation four times a week for four weeks.  The area sure seems to have many visitors, even by the bus loads!!
Ladies, I thought you would enjoy the gowns.  I really loved the talented dancers, and am amazed that the young men seem to really get into it!!  Every community needs some of this culture, in addition to sports, eh?

Come back for another play tomorrow.