Annual Spring Pilgrimage in Eufaula, Alabama

The 44th Annual Pilgrimage will take place in Eufaula, Alabama, this weekend.

One of the premier annual events in the South, the Pilgrimage begins on Friday at 9 a.m. with the ribbon cutting ceremonies at the historic Shorter Mansion on North Eufaula Avenue (U.S. 431) and the firing of the cannon at the Petry-Honan Home on Cherry Street.

Tours of Homes will be available on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, featuring some of the most beautiful antebellum and Victorian homes in the South and an amazing array of events will take place throughout the weekend.

Eufaula, located atop a high bluff overlooking Lake Eufaula, is one of the best preserved and most beautiful historic communities in the South. Noted for its magnificent old homes and tree-lined streets, the city was founded during the 1830s and has a rich and colorful history.

To learn more about Eufaula, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/eufaula. Just follow the "Spring Pilgrimage" link there to learn more about this weekend's events.

Eufaula, Alabama

Overlooking Lake Eufaula from the bluffs on the Alabama shore, the beautiful city of Eufaula is one of the most picturesque and historic in the South.

Named for one of the principal towns of the Lower Creek Indians, Eufaula was settled on the site of Creek villages at a time when the land was still claimed by the Creek Nation. Called Irwinton until 1843, the town was the source of much controversy with the Creeks during its early days and served as one of several bases for attacks by federal and state troops during the Creek War of 1836.

By the time of the Civil War, Eufaula was a prosperous river port on the Chattahoochee River and a commerical center for much of the surrounding area. Many of its elegant antebellum homes still stand today, saved from destruction when Union troops halted just west of town after receiving a truce request from Major General Samuel Jones who had just learned that the war was ending.

Today the city and surrounding area are home to more than 20 structures and districts that are listed on the National Register of Historic Sites. Some of the old homes in Eufaula are considered the finest examples of their architectural styles in the United States. Two now function as museums and a number of others are open to the public during the annual Spring Pilgrimage held in early April.

To learn more about Eufaula, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/eufaula.