Howard Steamboat Museum - Spring Festival

[Keith Norrington]

I'm just back from a very stormy trip last week to the Grand Old South where I saw LOTS of heavy rain and many downed trees (some of them old and HUGE oaks) causing a major power outage in Natchez and closing roads into some of the plantation houses such as Longwood, Melrose, etc. Also, the Mississippi River is on the rise and expected to reach flood stage (48 feet) on the Natchez gauge today, rising to at least 53 feet. Despite the encroaching water, I managed to again visit what's left of the 1921 Howard built Str. MAMIE S. BARRETT at Deer Park, LA and take a few photos, which I will post later this week. The old gal is surely a sorry sight, with collapsing decks and lots of vines and other brush overtaking the sternwheel and superstructure. However, her pilothouse still stands proudly amid the ruins. More about this later!

The main reason for this posting is to INVITE ONE AND ALL to the 17th annual spring Chautauqua at the Howard Steamboat Museum on Saturday and Sunday, May 16 & 17. We are open on Saturday from 10-6 and Sunday from 10-4. Admission to the grounds and mansion is $3.00, with children under 12 admitted free. I look forward to having Judy Patsch as my able assistant in the steamboat exhibits on the "second deck" of the mansion this year. Judy is a LIFE member of the museum and undoubtedly the volunteer who drives the furthest distance (400+ miles each way) for the good of the cause! Thanks Judy!

For a complete schedule of the festival events, click on Howard Steamboat Museum - Home Page.

Rain or shine (and right now they're predicting rain!) we look forward to seeing you!

"Curator Keith"