Out & About in the South – April/May/June 2023

Get the most out of life in the South and beyond with this curated collection of places to go and things to see.

Fire nearly destroyed Windsor Plantation more than a century ago, and since then, the elements have been attempting to complete the job. But the Mississippi Department of Archives and History (MDAH) is working to ensure that the historic ruins—a landmark near Port Gibson in southwest Mississippi—aren’t lost to history.

A stabilization project is continuing at Windsor Ruins through spring of this year to help preserve the 45-foot-tall decaying Corinthian columns that stand sentinel in the forest, guarding the site’s rich history. One of the largest private residences in Mississippi upon its 1861 completion, the mansion—which was built in part by slaves—originally featured 29 columns. A fire ravaged the home in 1890, but today 23 full columns and 5 partial columns remain.

To preserve the ruins, MDAH is infilling column voids with new masonry, securing the failing stucco finish, and conserving the cast-iron capitals. Temporary fencing has been erected during the project, but history and architecture buffs can still visit to appreciate these iconic vestiges of the past.

“Once the stabilization project is completed,” says Barry White, MDAH’s director of historic preservation, “MDAH plans to update interpretive signage to reflect the site’s broader significance in history regarding precontact, slavery, the Civil War, sharecropping, and the evolution of the preservation movement.”

A long-overdue name change brings new attention to Arkansas’ largest and most complex Native American mound site. What opened more than 40 years ago as Toltec Mounds Archeological State Park is now known as Plum Bayou Mounds Archeological State Park.

The site in Scott, just east of Little Rock, was mistakenly associated with the Toltec Indians of Mexico in the 1800s, and while that theory was disproven before the turn of the 20th century, the name stuck. Archeologists have since identified the Plum Bayou culture, named for a nearby stream, as builders of the mounds that the park safeguards.

Members of the Quapaw Nation played an important role in the discussions to rename the approximately 100-acre archeological site, which once included 18 mounds. Farming leveled most of the lesser mounds in the 1800s and early 1900s, but 3 large mounds dominate the landscape today.

Follow 2 self-guided trails through the park, both of which pass near the mounds and onto a boardwalk that extends over an oxbow lake. Exhibits in the visitors center also shine a light on the mound site that was a small community’s religious and social center from AD 650 to 1050.

Timing is everything. Although the Confederate attack on the Mississippi River town of Helena in east-central Arkansas featured fighting as fierce as any in the Civil War, it was not long remembered.

Its outcome was overshadowed by the Battle of Gettysburg fought just beforehand and the Confederate surrender at Vicksburg that occurred that same day. Even the battle itself was marked by confusion over time, with one general interpreting the rebel commander’s order to attack at “daybreak” as dawn while another general concluded that he meant first light—a full hour later. The minor misunderstanding had a major impact on the battle, which will be remembered during the 160th Anniversary Reenactment of the Battle of Helena, held April 14–16 at Helena River Park.

Learn about the conflict’s intricacies and the Union victory from participants portraying soldiers in the camps of both armies, and witness reenactments of the Battle of Helena and other related battles on Saturday and Sunday, respectively. Plus, enjoy a concert of Civil War–era music, as well as a living historian’s portrayal of General Ulysses S. Grant. For even more perspective on the battle and the region’s history, visit the nearby Delta Cultural Center.

The skies above West Baton Rouge will come alive with colorful kites and dazzling fireworks during the annual Kite Fest Louisiané on April 29 and 30. Bring your own kite to this family-friendly celebration of spring at the West Baton Rouge Soccer Complex, or purchase one on-site and make it soar, dive, and loop through the air. Relax on your blanket or lawn chair and watch experts pilot kites of all shapes and sizes with acrobatic precision.

Children can tap into their creativity during the kite-making workshop and design contest. Plus, everyone can sample a variety of Louisiana cuisine and enjoy music. Festivities begin at 11 a.m. on both days and include a fireworks show at dusk on Saturday.

Sam Houston Jones State Park still bears the scars of hurricanes Laura and Delta, which tore through southwest Louisiana in 2020. But the park reopened last summer with new and improved facilities, illustrating the healing process.

Located just north of Lake Charles, the park closed after the storms’ violent 150-mph winds snapped thousands of trees like matchsticks. Chainsaw crews removed a mountain of debris before work could begin.

Upgrades include 10 new luxury cabins featuring screened porches with outdoor fireplaces, a new 500-foot boardwalk along the Calcasieu River, and improved campsites to better accommodate RVs.

With assistance from Citgo, Sasol, and the Nature Conservancy of Louisiana, the park planted 20,000 trees, which will help reforest this 1,087-acre gem in the coming decades. Follow 3 hiking trails to see the recovery taking place at the park, which is also known for bird-watching, fishing, and water sports. Cabin rates start at $150.

For more places to go and things to see in the South, check out our editor-curated list of the best fairs, festivals, events, and more.