Quick Details
Adults
Ages 13+
Free
Children
Ages 8-12
Free
How one Ostrich egg shaped history!
Join us for an afternoon of discovery at the Longwood Symposium, where we explore the layers of history, preservation, and storytelling that make this unfinished octagon a living landmark. This year’s program honors the vision of James McHenry Wade, former Longwood Curator, and celebrates the people, objects, and stories that continue to bring Longwood to life.
Explore the adventurous journey of Dr. Rush Nutt and his son, Rittenhouse Nutt, down the Nile, his journals, and how he ingeniously brought cotton seeds into the U.S. inside ostrich eggs — forever changing Southern agriculture.
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Program Schedule
2:00 PM — Welcome & Opening Remarks
Dona-Marie Geoffrion, Manager, Longwood
Honoring the legacy of James McHenry Wade and the vision behind this symposium.
Regina Charboneau, Former President of the Pilgrimage Garden Club
James Wade, a Gift to Longwood.
2:15 PM — Living at Longwood
Presenter: Marsha Colson, President, Pilgrimage Garden Club
Marsha shares her memories of growing up within Longwood’s walls while her parents served as caretakers — a rare, firsthand glimpse into life inside one of Natchez’s most iconic homes.2:45 PM — Vee’s Bees
Presenter: Viollette Shepherd, CEO/COO
Discover how an unexpected bee infestation in 2024 was transformed into an opportunity for preservation and sustainability. Meet the wrangler, Vee, who safely re‑homed Longwood’s bees — and learn how their honey now sweetens our gift shop offerings.3:15 PM — Ostrich Egg & Journal
Presentation. Donation of the Ostrich Egg from the “Members of the Johnson family, descendants of Rittenhouse Nutt”.
Presenter: Ruthie Coy, Parliamentarian & Historian, Pilgrimage Garden Club Executive Board, presented in research collaboration with Mimi W. Miller, Executive Director Emerita, Historic Natchez Foundation
Explore the adventurous journey of Dr. Rush Nutt and his son, Rittenhouse Nutt, down the River Nile, his journals, and how he ingeniously brought Egyptian cotton seeds into the U.S. inside ostrich eggs — forever changing Southern agriculture.
3:45 PM — Finial Exhibit — Memorializing James McHenry Wade
Presenter: Joette Maroski, Manager, LongwoodLearn the story of Longwood’s iconic dome finial — from its dramatic fall in the early 1900s to its fiberglass replacement in the early 1990s — as we unveil an exhibit dedicated to James McHenry Wade.
4:15 PM — Closing Remarks & Reception
Terrel Williams, MD, President Elect, Pilgrimage Garden Club
Wrap up the day with reflections, conversation, and light refreshments.