Plenty of action in Jackson

Jackson destination information, links

(Be sure to call ahead for current operating information.)

Bear Corners Restaurant & Store: 1674 Charter St., 634-5588

Centenary State Historic Site: 3522 E. College St., 634-7925

Feliciana Cellars Winery: 1848 Charter St., 634-7982, felicianacellars.com

Greater Baton Rouge Model Railroaders Exhibit: 3406 E. College St.,634-3473, ?batonrougerailroaders.com

Milbank Historic House: 3045 Bank St., 634-5901, millbankbandb.com

Old Centenary Inn: 1740 Charter St., 634-5050

Old Feliciana Courthouse: 1752 High St., 634-7155

Onion Creek House of Gifts: 3434 College St., 571-4799, onioncreekhouseofgifts.com

Republic of West Florida Museum: 3406 E. College St., 634-7444, jacksonlamuseum.com

Southern Belle Antique Station/Club Car: 1426 Charter St., 634-7111

Editor’s Note: Part of an occasional series by travel enthusiasts Doug Woolfolk and Dave Hanchey.

Because of a late morning start, Sunday closings and the nagging fear that there just might not really be enough to see in the tiny town of Jackson, we had some apprehension about this particular road trip. But we stuck to our traditions—good ’50s to ’70s music on the excursion; lunch at a famous old Louisiana restaurant; and competitive photography sprinkled with jabs, jokes and jive to keep the day alive.

Our first CD for the trip was vintage Willie Nelson, and it quickly cranked up our mood. Upon entering the town of Jackson we soon realized we had no reason to fret.

Jackson is a faded jewel from Louisiana’s historic past, but it is well worth a visit for history buffs with the right mindset. It’s a small, poor country town of hidden treasures that becomes a very interesting adventure if visitors are willing to stop and chat with Jackson’s friendly residents and then strike off on their own in search of antebellum homes, historic sites, antique cars, model railroads, museums and Civil War artifacts. (We’re always willing to chat up the locals and search for unique photo ops.)

Founded in 1815 by an act of the Louisiana Legislature, the town was the first one named in honor of Andrew Jackson after his historic defeat of the British in New Orleans during the War of 1812. It quickly became both a hotbed of banking and the original seat of government for the entire Feliciana area. In fact, the very tiny “Old Feliciana Courthouse” (circa 1816) houses the Jackson Chamber of Commerce and the Tourist Commission, so it’s very helpful for handouts and historical information.

It turns out there’s an abundance of historic architecture available to visit in Jackson. The town’s building boom from the 1820s until the Civil War showcased almost every style of period architecture. Jackson today has more than 120 preserved historic buildings and residences in its “National Register Historic District.” Still functional and occupied, they look like they must have appeared more than 160 years ago.

In addition to residences and commercial buildings, a visit to the district will introduce you to several churches worth visiting for their own histories. The Jackson Presbyterian Church (circa 1852) is a red brick colonial known for its excellent detail and beautifully proportioned windows. Jackson United Methodist Church (circa 1852) is a Gothic structure on the National Register that served the students at Centenary College. The First Baptist Church of Jackson (circa 1860) features Colonial American architecture. Its records have been kept from the time the original church was established in 1835. Also of interest is the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church.

Time for lunch, so we stopped for a treat at the Bear Corners Restaurant & Store (circa 1832). Its main dining room looks over the grounds of the historic Milbank House (circa 1836), a large Greek Revival mansion with huge Doric columns that was built originally as a bank.

Education once played a very important role in Jackson’s history. The all-male College of Louisiana was established there in 1826, using an old courthouse and other buildings in town. A large East Wing dormitory was built in 1832, followed by the West Wing in 1837. The College merged with and became the Centenary College of Louisiana around 1845, owned and operated by the “Methodist/Episcopal Church South.” A massive three-story, 28-room Academic Building added from 1856-1858 included a gymnasium, 2,000-seat auditorium, one of the South’s best libraries, an astronomy observatory, debate halls, science laboratories and classrooms.

Jackson had quickly grown into an early center of higher education. Unfortunately, the buildings were badly damaged during the Civil War, and the college never returned to its pre-war glory. It eventually moved to Shreveport in 1908.Today the Jackson site still has the West Wing Dormitory, the old Professors’ House, a Confederate cemetery, some ruins, guided tours and information on the college’s history.

Because of Jackson’s strong initial commerce and growth, the “Clinton and Port Hudson Railroad,” established in 1833 and one of the earliest railroads in America, included a “spur” track into the town. That railroad played a vital role in the whole area’s development, as it was used to haul cotton and goods, and later even hauled Confederate troops and supplies during the Civil War siege of Port Hudson.

“The Old Hickory Railroad,” built in 1998 to commemorate that early Jackson spur, is housed on College Street at the old McKowen School site. The complex, with its steam locomotive, club cars, depot, equipment and rail yard, is a fascinating area to explore and photograph. Also on the site is the Republic of West Florida Museum filled with Civil War artifacts from Port Hudson, military memorabilia, an antique car collection, a horse-drawn hearse and many other historic items. Other nearby buildings house an old sugarcane press and a cotton gin.

One of the most interesting exhibits on location is a large building filled with extensive collections and fabulous operational model railroad layouts. The project, put together and operated by the Greater Baton Rouge Model Railroaders, includes an outside “garden rail track.” The quality and extent of the historic collections and the operational exhibits is astounding. On the second and fourth Saturdays of each month the entire display is open for visitors from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m.

From 1848 to 1853, another in the long line of intriguing buildings was completed in Jackson—the “Louisiana Insane Asylum” (known today as the East Louisiana State Hospital). The imposing structure is considered to be one of the largest and most significant Greek Revival buildings in Louisiana. It is also known as one of the first mental hospitals in the South and has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Jackson even has a winery—Feliciana Cellars—featuring 10 distinctive wines made of muscadine and bunch grapes harvested from its local vineyards. The wines have won several national competition awards and were featured on NBC’s Today Show.

Typically, one of the best things about any small Louisiana town is its people. Jackson is certainly no exception! Informative, enthralling folks were eager to help us everywhere we went in Jackson—the quaint little town with the extra-large historical background.

So, whew! If you’re interested in history, good food, friendly folks, antebellum structures, railroads, antiques, Civil War artifacts, wine tasting and just a fun “Louisiana Road Trip,” don’t hiccup and miss this sleepy little place.

You’ll be passing up something really special.