Marianna Prepares for May Events

An Exhibit Hall, open the entire month of May, will be one of Marianna's main attractions during the year long LAP Bicentennial Celebration. Located at 13 N. Poplar (directly across from City Park) it will feature the original compass used by E. P. Douglass when he surveyed the Louisiana Territory in 1921 (this was the second time it was surveyed because of a disagreement between Lee and Phillips Counties where the boundry line was.) Also among the many, many exhibits will be pictures of John Gill and his "hikers", last November 2002, when they retraced the 1815 surveyors steps. A large mural of the natural surroundings at the State Park, a collection of Indian artifacts, a model of the 3,300 pound granite monument which was placed by the DAR ladies in the State Park in 1926, a collection of photographs, maps, documents from the area, etc. etc. will be available for all to view.

A ribbon cutting, open house and refreshments will be at the building May 1 at 6:30 p.m. However the Exhibit Hall will be open Monday-Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Sunday upon request.

"A Living History" at Cedar Heights Cemetery on May 3 is a tour where former deceased residents will cleverly be represented, portrayed by some of their ancestors, with a brief history as well as appropriate costumes, of that period. This event is from 5-7 p.m.

Next will be a vignette in City Park called "DAR Takes a Stand". Local residents will portray members of the Marianna L'Anguille chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution who posed for the picture when they placed the marker in the swamps in 1926, where Lee, Phillips and Monroe Counties join. The gazebo will be the setting for 3 performaces on May 9 at 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. The conclusion of the play will be the unveiling of the monument as it happened in the LAP State Park.

The last event for the month will be May 16 when Ed Williams and his friends in period costumes, perform an enactment of William Dunbar, 1804 explorer of the Louisiana Territory. Mr. Williams will be in Marianna City Park from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

American flags will fly from poles in downtown Marianna and streets leading into the city; and large banners depicting the 13 states added to the U.S. will decorate all the businesses during the month of May.

The Marianna LAP committee hopefully will re-enact the cemetery tour and the vignette in City Park for other tourist groups, upon request. For additional information call 870-295-3401