HISTORIC TRAVELER
ITINERARY
Fans of historic architecture
will enjoy visiting the City of
Franklin, an English town set in
the middle of Cajun Country.
Begin your day touring
Oaklawn Manor, the private
home of Louisiana’s former
governor, Mike Foster. Built in
1837, Oaklawn is a monumental
plantation home furnished
with European antiques, lovely
bird carvings and an extensive
Audubon collection. Then
drive along Sterling Road to
Grevemberg House Museum,
an 1851 townhouse featuring
four Temple of the Winds
columns and filled with fine
antiques, documented wallpaper
and early area artifacts.
Continue on to Main Street to
Shadowlawn Plantation. This
striking Greek temple built circa
1850 is attached to a smaller
1807 Greek revival building
originally operated as a tavern.
The home displays historic
items among period furnishings.
Enjoy lunch at one of the
local diners or restaurants.
Following lunch, walk or
drive throughout Franklin’s
National Register Historic
District, encompassing over 420
noteworthy buildings including
stunning antebellum structures,
charming Victorians and a
turn of the century shopping
district. Lined by original
lampposts, East Main Street is
shaded by an oak arcade and
stately Greek Revival homes.
Brochures are available at City
Hall or the Cajun Coast Visitors
& Convention Bureau Visitor
Center. Other stops in Franklin
include the Young Sanders
Center for the Study of the
War Between the States, a
repository of civil war history,
and Assumption Catholic
Church, a grand Catholic
church filled with stained glass.
Drive along the historic
Bayou Teche Scenic Byway
to downtown Morgan City.
Morgan City’s riverfront
Historic District is a part of the
national Main Street program.
It boasts unique shops and
quaint restaurants. In addition,
Morgan City’s Historic District
encompasses several splendid
churches ranging from the
1870s to the early 1900s. Housed
in the old First National Bank
Building across from City Hall
is Everett Street Gallery where
a visitor can view and buy local
art.
Brochures are available at
downtown stores, City Hall
or the Cajun Coast Welcome
Center in Morgan CIty.
BIRD OR WILDLIFE
WATCHING
The Cajun Coast is a bird
and wildlife watchers paradise.
Begin the day along the bayous
of Stephensville, in particular,
Four-Mile Bayou Road. Once
only accessible by boat, the
roadway literally runs right
through the swamp, making
birds, turtles, alligators and
other indigenous animals
easy to spot.
Include a visit to Mosquito
Bar or Gros Marina, where
locals hang out on weekends.
After Stephensville, travel to
Morgan City but first stop at the
Brownell Carillon Bell Tower.
This designated bird sanctuary
has walking paths throughout
the swamp enhanced by the
music of the carillon bells that
ring every 15 minutes.
From Morgan City, drive
west towards Patterson to
Cotten Road. Along Cotten
Road, depending on the time
of the year, you’ll see a variety
of birds and, if you’re lucky,
even spot a Louisiana black
bear. If you’re hungry, stop at
the Atchafalaya Restaurant
Clubhouse along Cotten
Road for beautiful views while
lunching in this public course’s
cypress clubhouse. After lunch,
take a short drive from Cotten
Road to Captain Caviar &
Swamp Tour.
If time permits, drive along
the Old Spanish Trail or Bayou
Teche Scenic Byway to the
Bayou Teche National Wildlife
Refuge. The refuge has walking
and paddling trails and a public
boardwalk. Maps are available.
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