St. Francisville, the Capital of "English" Louisiana
Written: May 13 '00 (Updated Jan 23 '02)
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Pros: Unique area of Louisiana, fascinating history,few tourists
Cons: None
The Bottom Line: Louisiana east of the Mississippi River was once the Republic of West Florida, and it's very different from the rest of Louisiana
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| Howard_Creech's Full Review: Louisiana |
When France lost Canada to the English after the French and Indian War, the French immediately transferred ownership of the vast Louisiana territory to Spain. This was done to prevent the English from gaining control of the Mississippi watershed. The three major colonial powers (England, France, & Spain) had been in conflict for over two hundred years to control the North American Continent.
Spanish ownership of Louisiana meant that Spain controlled the entire Gulf Coast, from Key West to the Yucatan. Spain's most pressing problem in governing and controlling this vast territory was a lack of colonists. Small groups of American settlers were allowed to colonize Texas to the west and the uninhabited lands on the east bank of the Mississippi River, by Spanish Colonial administrators.
When France regained title to Louisiana in 1803 and sold it to the United States (Napoleon needed cash to continue his fight with the English in Europe) the east bank of the Mississippi River remained under Spanish control. This area was called West Florida, and the capital of the province was Baton Rouge. The French Creoles living in Louisiana were not happy about living under American rule, and the American's were even more suspicious of the Creoles. When the English speaking settlers in West Florida rebelled against Spanish rule in 1810, captured Baton Rouge, drove the Spanish back to Pensacola, and declared a republic, President James Madison authorized Louisiana's Governor Claiborne to take control of West Florida.
This gave the United States control of the Gulf Coast from Pensacola to the Texas border. The United States quickly admitted Louisiana to the union and placed the state capital in Baton Rouge, under the control of the American settlers in the former West Florida, rather than the wealthy creoles in New Orleans. The territory on the east bank of the Mississippi River has been called the Florida parishes ever since.
The Florida parishes were home to rich American planters, who lived much like their neighbors to the north in Natchez. Plantations grew cotton and shipped it north on steamboats, to the thriving textile mills in the northeastern United States. More than half of all the millionaires in the United States, by the middle of the nineteenth century, lived on plantations between Natchez and New Orleans.
St. Francisville is located in the scenic Tunica Hills of eastern Louisiana. It is a charming little town with more than 140 structures on the National Register of Historic Places. The traditions and history of this region are very different from the rest of Louisiana, the churches here are Methodist, Episcopal, and Baptist, rather than Catholic. The cemeteries look like those in New England or the Midwest, with very few above ground burials. The architecture of this area is more like what you might see in Georgia or Alabama, rather than the typical raised creole cottages, bousillage construction, and wrap around "galleries that are common on the other side of the river. Restaurants in the area serve barbecue, fried catfish, southern fried chicken, chicken fried steak, steaks, and fried potatoes, instead of Jambalaya, Gumbo, "dirty rice" and crawfish.
Many of the old plantations in the area around St. Francisville are still working farms. Today they grow pecans, and raise beef cattle. Many of these magnificent old houses are open to the public, a few of the most interesting are: Rosedown Plantation (1835), Greenwood Plantation (1830), and Oakley House (1806) where John James Audubon worked on completing his book of American Birds. Several of the old plantation houses are now Bed & Breakfast Inns, Cottage Plantation (504) 635-3674, The Barrow House (504) 635-4791, or for the more adventurous the Butler Greenwood Plantation, a working plantation (504) 635-6312, or for the truly brave hearted, the Myrtles Plantation, (504) 635-6277, a 1796 home with live oaks and crystal chandeliers (and the claim to be the "most haunted house in America") In St. Francisville don't miss the Grace Episcopal Church (1858) or the Museum of the West Feliciana Historical Society. Have lunch at the Magnolia Cafe, 121 E. Commerce St. (504) 635-6528.
The easiest way to see St. Francisville is to rent a bicyle and tour at your own speed. For more information on attractions in and around St. Francisville contact the West Feliciana Parish Tourist Commission, P. O. Box 1548 St. Francisville, LA. 70775 (504) 635-6330. Driving to St. Francisville, from New Orleans follow the river road to Baton Rouge, from Baton Rouge take U. S. 61 north.
If you enjoyed reading this Louisiana travel review, please read my other Louisiana travel reviews:
New Orleans
Off the Beaten Path in New Orleans
http://www.epinions.com/trvl-review-1C6C-B84F727-39485E6B-prod2
New Orleans With an Attitude
http://www.epinions.com/trvl-review-27B-148CC64-3888A033-bd1
On the Trail of Jean Lafitte
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Louisiana Highway One
Exploring Louisiana’s Enchanted Backroads
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Traveling back in Time
http://www.epinions.com/trvl-review-55C9-1846C465-39691684-prod5
Into the Cajun Heartland
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Cajun Country
A Pilgrimage to the Musical Heart of Louisiana
http://www.epinions.com/content_51310136964
A South Louisiana Journey
http://www.epinions.com/content_43274440324
Evangeline Parish, Real Cajun Country
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A Quick Tour of Cajun Country
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Rendevous Des Cajuns
http://www.epinions.com/trvl-review-42C-C0FA2A-38874480-bd1
Florida Parishes
St. Francisville the Capital of English Louisiana
http://www.epinions.com/trvl-review-1B91-51748AE-391D72B3-prod6
Southwest Louisiana
Creole Nature Trail
http://www.epinions.com/trvl-review-69F8-47FAB2-388DE015-bd3
Just “cut’n’paste” the URL into your browser’s address window
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Howard_Creech
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Member: Howard Creech
Location: Louisville, KY
Reviews written: 333
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About Me:
Photographer/Writer fascinated by Movies, Music, Books, American Diner Food, History, "Popular Culture", and Travel.
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