MISSISSIPPI RIVER TRIP MEMORIES

Paul and I enjoyed a river trip on the Mississippi River on the American Duchess.  The itinerary began in  Memphis with visits to the National Civil Rights Museum, adjacent to where Martin Luther King was assassinated  and  the Memphis Rock and Soul Museum before boarding  the paddlewheel river boat American Duchess.

A mural at the Civil Rights Museum

A mixer used with Elvis Presley music

 A stop was made at Vicksburg National Military Park that preserves the site of the Civil War Battle of Vicksburg in 1863.  The 47 day siege ended with the surrender of the city.  Over 1000 historic markers and monuments are scattered over the battleground.

Markers describe the battle in this area

The Illinois state memorial is modeled after the Parthenon

Longwood Plantation in Natchez is  known for its octagonal plan  that  was never finished.

           Stanton Hall is an Antebellum Classical Revival mansion in Natchez.

Tea garden area behind Stanton Hall

Stanton Hall entry

Paul is making friends with a horse trained at Angola Prison

A museum exhibit at Angola Prison about the on site rodeo

Angola prison in Louisiana is the largest maximum security prison in the U.S. with over 6,000 prisoners. It is self sufficient with a dairy, ranch, repair shops and cash crops.

It has vocational and education classes.  It also features a rodeo in April and every Sunday in October in a 10,000 person stadium and included is an  Arts and Crafts festival with items made by the prisoners.

  Nottoway Plantation in White Castle is a Greek Revival and Italianate-styled mansion with 64  rooms built in  1859.

Nottoway Plantation

The Ballroom at Nottoway

The elegant dining room      

Sitting room at Nottoway

Paul and I in the show room on the boat.

       After Nottoway plantation the next day's boat stop was New Orleans, our final destination. This paddle wheel boat looks similar to the American Duchess that we were on.