Historic St. Francisville on display

ST. FRANCISVILLE — The Smithsonian Institution’s traveling exhibit, “Journey Stories,” will be displayed in the West Feliciana Parish Historical Society’s museum, 11757 Ferdinand St., from Saturday through March 18.

The free exhibit examines the intersection between transportation and American society, through individual stories illustrating the roles that mobility and travel played in U.S. history, according to the exhibit’s website.

The museum is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

Other events calling attention to St. Francisville’s past are planned while the exhibit is in town, including a Walking Tour of Jewish History at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 11.

Led by Rebecca Kastil, the tour begins at the Julius Freyhan building, 4727 Fidelity St., and will highlight the significant contributions of St. Francisville’s early Jewish immigrants.

Also on Feb. 11, Kathryn Ward presents a one-woman play, “Rachel O’Connor’s World,” that recalls the life of a female plantation owner and planter in the Felicianas. The play will be at 3:30 p.m. at Audubon State Historic Site, 11788 La. 965, with a reception hosted by Friends of Oakley.

On Sunday, Feb. 12, the Women’s Service League will sponsor a 2 p.m. reception for the exhibit’s grand opening at the Historical Society museum.

Other events planned in conjunction with the exhibit include:

• “Feliciana Filmmakers: Student Oral History,” 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 18, and Feb. 25, at the museum.
• “Louisiana’s Native Americans,” a presentation by author Margo Soule, at Market Hall on Royal Street at 2 p.m. Feb. 25.
• “Dr. Irene S. DiMaio Gerstacker’s Louisiana: Fiction and Travel Sketches from Antebellum Times through Reconstruction,” 2 p.m., Feb. 26, at Market Hall with a reception hosted by St. Francisville United Methodist Church.
• Gospel Music Fest, sponsored by the Rotary Club and featuring local church choirs, 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., March 3, Parker Park on Commerce Street.
• “West Feliciana Railroad,” a presentation by David Floyd, director of the LSU Rural Life Museum, 2 p.m., March 4, Old Courtroom, West Feliciana Parish Courthouse; reception sponsored by Grace Episcopal Church.
• “Why Louisiana Ain’t Mississippi,” presentation by Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne, old courthouse, 2 p.m., March 11; reception sponsored by the Julius Freyhan Foundation.
• Audubon Pilgrimage, March 16-18.
• Cemetery tour, with local citizens portraying historical characters from West Feliciana’s past, Grace Episcopal Church cemetery, 6 p.m. March 16.

A self-guided tour of West Feliciana Parish history also will be available at the museum while the exhibit is on display.