After more than a year of staying home, you may be ready to travel again but might feel safer staying closer to home. A Mississippi River cruise could be the answer. “Plantation Holiday Markets” on the American Queen Steamboat is the perfect holiday vacation for the older cruiser.
American Queen Voyages
The American Queen Riverboat, owned by American Queen Voyages, is the largest river steamboat ever built. The ship was built in 1995 and is a six-deck recreation of a classic Mississippi riverboat.
American Queen Voyages has four paddlewheel riverboats: American Queen, American Countess, American Duchess and American Empress. The American Queen is by far the largest and most authentic with 222 staterooms for a capacity of 436 guests.
Mississippi River Cruise Itinerary
Our 9-day cruise on the American Queen started in Memphis, TN and ended in New Orleans, LA. A one night hotel stay was included in Memphis. You can read all about my visit to Elvis’ Graceland in my previous post: Is Visiting Graceland Only for Elvis Fans?
The other stops were Vicksburg, MS; Natchez, MS; Baton Rouge, LA; St. Francisville, LA and Nottoway Plantation, LA.
Unlimited Tours
Gaily decorated American Queen hop-on-hop-off tour buses awaited us at each stop. We carried maps of the city indicating where the buses stopped. The buses continuously circled the indicated route. Therefore, we never had to wait more than 10 minutes for a ride. As a result, we were able to choose which sites to see and how long to stay at each one. Additionally, American Queen offered premium tours for an extra fee but we never felt the need to purchase one.
Vicksburg, MS
Vicksburg was a major battle site during the Civil War. As a result, this city perfectly blends Southern culture and heritage with exciting modern attractions.
Anchuca Mansion
Anchuca, a Choctaw Indian word meaning “happy home,” is one of the most significant antebellum homes and the first historical Bed & Breakfast in Vicksburg, Mississippi.
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this impressive Greek Revival landmark represents the first columned mansion in Vicksburg.
It began as a two-story wood frame cottage built around 1830.
Anchuca’s bold, impressive exterior gives way to an elegantly refined yet comfortably inviting interior. Today, fine antiques and art from the late 1700s to the mid-1800s, furnish this antebellum home.
Church of the Holy Trinity
This church is famous for its 6 Tiffany-stained glass windows.
Many houses of worship have beautiful stained-glass windows that serve as a source of peace and comfort to attendees and a visual reminder of the Christ and his teachings. What makes a visit to Vicksburg’s Church of the Holy Trinity unique are the 14 stained glass windows that line the left and right sides of the sanctuary. Six are authentic Tiffany originals that date back to the late 19th century.
Contributions from Civil War veterans around the country paid for the stained-glass windows. Another key point is that they were dedicated to the soldiers who died in battle during the Siege of Vicksburg. They contain panels dedicated to both the Confederate and Union forces. Consequently, they are among the first post-Civil War memorials to promote unity and healing for both sides.
Biedenharn Coca Cola Museum
The Biedenharn family were the original bottlers of Coca-Cola. The restored building is where Coca-Cola was first bottled in 1894.
The museum houses a wide variety of exhibits interpreting the beginnings of Coca-Cola, the history of the Biedenharn family, the process used to first bottle Coca-Cola, a reproduction of the equipment first used to bottle Coke, the history of Coca-Cola advertising, and Coca-Cola memorabilia from past to present.
The authentically-restored candy store and office area feature furnishings and displays of the 1890s and offer ice cream, fountain Cokes, Coke floats and a wide selection of Coca-Cola souvenirs.
Old Depot Museum
This museum contains a miniature replica of the Vicksburg battlefield, railroad memorabilia & local history in an old depot. Inside we found:
- Railroad memorabilia
- A collection of model Civil War gunboats carrying Mississippi names
- 40 original war-themed paintings by Herb Mott
- Video footage of trails used by soldiers and citizens during the Siege of Vicksburg
- A detailed diorama of the Siege of Vicksburg
- Model railroad layouts
- Models of architecture styles employed throughout Vicksburg’s past
The magnificent Old Depot houses all the exhibits after a $2.4 million restoration project.
Natchez, MS
This charming river town was founded in 1716, making it the oldest city on the Mississippi River. It’s known for its elegance, hospitality and impressive preservation of history. There are unique shops, restaurants, museums and historic homes. As such, it is included in the book, “The 100 Best Towns in America.”
Rosalie Mansion
The Mississippi State Society Daughters of the American Revolution have owned, operated, and maintained Rosalie Mansion as a historic house museum for more than seventy years.
It became a National Historic Landmark in 1989. Built in 1823, it served as the architectural inspiration for a large number of Natchez’s grand Greek Revival mansions and was a major influence on Antebellum architecture in the greater region.
In addition, during the American Civil War, it served as Union headquarters for the Natchez area from July 1863 on.
Magnolia Hall
Construction on Magnolia Hall began in 1858, as the residence of Thomas Henderson, a Natchez native who became a wealthy cotton broker and merchant. The name of the house was inspired by the plaster magnolia blossoms incorporated into the design of the parlor ceiling centerpieces.
As a Greek Revival mansion it is a contributing property to the “Natchez On Top of the Hill Historic District”, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Natchez Garden Club restored the house and operates it as a museum.
Baton Rouge, LA
We spent the day in Baton Rouge at the LSU Rural Life Museum.
LSU Rural Life Museum
The LSU Rural Life Museum is а museum of Louisiana history in Baton Rouge, LA, located in the Burden Museum and Gardens. The Louisiana State University operates it on a 40-acre agricultural research experiment station.
Overall, visitors are able to view life in a rural Louisiana setting during the 18th and 19th centuries. As a result, the historic outbuildings reflect the different cultures associated with Louisiana throughout the state’s unique history.
The Working Plantation Section consists of a Post Office, Commissary, Overseer’s House, Open-Hearth Kitchen, Slave Cabins, Sick House, Blacksmith’s Shop, Sugar House, School House, Pigeon Cote, and a large collection of Outhouses.
The Folk Architecture Section consists of a Split-Cypress Barn, Country Church, Pioneer’s Cabin with Corn Crib and Potato House. There is also a Shotgun House, Dogtrot House, Log House, Log Barn and a Jail.
LSU Museum, Baton Rouge
The Exhibit Barn displays various exhibits on Louisiana’s cultural and historical heritage. As an illustration, it has exhibits on the Plantation South, Slavery, Creoles, Yeoman Farmers, the Civil War, Reconstruction and the Industrial Revolution. Likewise, the Exhibit Barn also has many artifacts displaying the life of early Louisianans. In particular, the museum has a large collection of 19th-century horse-drawn carriages as well as farming equipment and tools.
St. Francisville, LA
As a result of its many charming antebellum-period homes and striking architecture, St. Francisville today is a testament to the lifestyle of a bygone era. There are over 140 buildings on the National Register of Historic Places. For this reason, the beautiful plantation homes give St. Francisville a style all its own.
The Ghosts of Myrtles Plantation
Surrounded by centuries-old live oak trees, the mansion features a 125-foot verandah, exquisite ornamental ironwork, hand-painted stained glass and open-pierced frieze work crown molding. It also has Aubusson tapestry, Baccarat crystal chandelier, Carrara marble mantels, gold-leafed French furnishings and GHOSTS.
Myrtles Plantation is called “One of America’s Most Haunted Homes”. Indeed, the plantation is supposedly home to at least 12 ghosts. As our humorous guide toured us through the house she pointed out places that supposedly had high spirit energy. One of them was the mirror located in the entrance hall. Therefore, I stood in front of that mirror and searched for ghosts but found none. Now, as I study this photo, I see something I had not noticed before. Tell me if you see a dog on the right side halfway down along with the side profile of a woman in a turban. Then right below that, a child’s handprint. I did not see any of this when I was in the mansion staring at the mirror. Can you see it?
Nottoway Plantation
Nottoway is located near White Castle, Louisiana. The house was built in 1859. Accordingly, it is the largest antebellum plantation house in the South with 53,000 square feet of floor space.
As a member of Historic Hotels of America, Nottoway Plantation has become a resort destination as an inn. Thus, this sugarcane estate has impressive detail with original furnishings and antiques.
For this holiday cruise, there was a special event at Nottoway Plantation consisting of bonfires, bands, vintage dancers, church choirs, live music and food. As our our last stop, this was a breathtaking way to end this cruise.
Tea room in Nottoway 
Nottoway at night
Summary
Watching this authentic paddlewheel propel our river boat down the Mississippi was one of the most unique travel experiences I have had. It was both relaxing and educational. The plantations were amazing and the history fascinating. I recommend the American Queen to older travelers and the itinerary to all ages.
