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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2025 CHRISTMAS TOUR OF HOMES 1-4 PM
The Christmas Tour of Homes is a holiday tour of uniquely decorated properties in Natchitoches, Louisiana. The event will feature docent-led commentaries on the history of each property as well as the unique holiday decorations. The Christmas Tour of Homes is a self-guided walking tour. You may begin at any of the 3 properties listed below. There will be docents to guide you through the interior of each venue. The entire tour takes between 2.5 and 3 hours. Please plan accordingly.
You may begin your tour at any of the 3 properties featured. Tickets may also be purchased at the front door of every property. We do NOT sell out. *For large group rates (30+) please contact Christina Johnson at 318-228-7083.
Tours will NOT be cancelled due to rain or bad weather. Be sure to pack an umbrella!
Tickets are $30/person. Children under 12 are free. Your emailed confirmation/receipt is your ticket. You can display these tickets on your phone when you arrive. However, we keep accurate records of all ticket holders at each property should your emailed receipt be lost.
We invite you to experience the charm of historic Natchitoches during this annual holiday event. Proceeds from the tour benefit restoration of properties in the Natchitoches Parish area.
*Saturday tickets include a complimentary ticket to The Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame & Northwest Louisiana History Museum located at 800 Front Street.
You may begin at any of the 3 properties listed below:
The Sweet Cane Inn (926 Washington Street):
The Sweet Cane Inn was built for Congressman Phanor Breazeale in the late 1800’s. Among its many unique features, Sweet Cane Inn’s stately presence boasts of 12-foot ceilings, 11 fireplaces, and wall of stained glassed windows at the top of the stairs which curve and lead to seven beautifully spacious rooms and suites. This Victorian era home has been exquisitely restored and features the amenities you would expect of a top-notch B&B. For more information or to reserve a room at The Sweet Cane inn, visit www.sweetcaneinn.com.
Judge Porter House (321 2nd Street):
Built in 1912 by "Judge" Thomas Fitzgerald Porter and his wife Wilhelmina, the home was located on property that once stretched from Second Street to Bayou Amulet. The Blunt Lodge Hall, an existing building already located on the property, was carefully dismantled piece by piece so that materials could be used for the construction of the house which took only 3 months to build at a total cost of $1,500. The original contract for building the home can be seen as you go up the stairs to the second floor of the home. Judge Porter died in 1928 leaving the house to his wife, Wilhelmina, who died in 1935. She passed the house on to her daughter Louisa Elizabeth "Betty" Porter, who lived here until her death in 1962. Judge Porter, Wilhelmina and Betty Porter are all buried in the American Cemetery. Betty's two brothers and a sister sold the house the following year to the Charles E. Kirsh family. It remained in that family for two generations before it was purchased in 1987 by the Rachal’s. In 1987, Mark and Sharon Rachal began a monumental restoration project on the house and in 1994 the current owner totally redecorated the interior and landscaped the grounds. In 1995 the house was opened to the public for the first time on the Natchitoches Historic Foundation's annual Fall Pilgrimage. In June of 1996 the house was opened as the "Judge" Porter House Bed and Breakfast. The Bed and Breakfast features four bedrooms with two parlors and a Guest House. The architectural style of the house is eclectic, using styles common for the Turn of the Century. The two-story gallery which wraps around two sides of the house suggest a Queen Anne influence, while the colossal columns resting on brick pillars suggest Colonial Revival. Located in the heart of the National Historic District, the house is embraced with lofty live oak trees planted by the original owner, Judge Porter. Just over 3,000 square feet, there are 33 windows in this house with 15 over 8 feet in height. These windows were commonly used as passageways onto the gallery. The ceilings are 11.5 feet and there are five fireplaces. The floors, which are all original to the house, are heart pine. The Judge Porter House operates as a bed & breakfast and is available for rent. For more information visit www.judgeporterhouse.com
Queen Anne (125 Pine Street):
As their last home, Major Charles Joseph and Annie Strechan Greene, built their Victorian home in 1905. The house has had many changes over the years. Major Charles Greene Sr. was born in 1847 and served in the civil war as a messenger. Annie Strechan, who was born in 1866, met Charles Greene Sr. in Colorado Springs and in 1881 when Charles was 34 years old, he married Annie, who was 15 years old. They had six children, Helen, Jessie, Charles Jr, Rob, Alexander and Annie, who were born in 1900. They moved to Natchitoches in 1899 when Charles was hired as a receiver for the state land office. Major Greene lived in Natchitoches until his death on April 11, 1933, at 86 years old. The widowed Mrs. Annie Greene lived out her remaining years in the house until she died on July 24, 1958. She was 92 years old. Both Major Charles Greene and his wife along with their children are buried in the American Cemetery. Their 2nd oldest daughter, Miss Jessie Greene was a Natchitoches schoolteacher and lived here until her death in 1965. The house saw some bleak years as ownership changed hands several times including becoming home to a fraternity house. From 1947-1980 several fraternities occupied the house including the Kappa Sigma, Kappa Alpha and Sigman Tau Gamma. They finished the third story of the property which rises two and ½ stories above the 2nd floor. The third story had 3 bedrooms. The original shaker shingles are still visible on the third floor. Today the third floor is used as storage. At some point the second story gallery was removed during the time the Fraternity owned the home. This 2nd story gallery was added back to the home around 2006 by the Howells. In 2008 the property was purchased by the current owner from the Howells who opened the house As the Queen Anne Bed and Breakfast in early 2000. The house has 4 bedrooms on the second floor, all with private baths. The fifth guest room is in the library of the home and is located on the first floor. The home was furnished in the Queen Anne style while the bathrooms were modernized. The Queen Anne House operates as a bed & breakfast and is available for rent. For more information visit www.queenannebandb.com
The Christmas Tour of Homes is a holiday tour of uniquely decorated properties in Natchitoches, Louisiana. The event will feature docent-led commentaries on the history of each property as well as the unique holiday decorations. The Christmas Tour of Homes is a self-guided walking tour. You may begin at any of the 3 properties listed below. There will be docents to guide you through the interior of each venue. The entire tour takes between 2.5 and 3 hours. Please plan accordingly.
You may begin your tour at any of the 3 properties featured. Tickets may also be purchased at the front door of every property. We do NOT sell out. *For large group rates (30+) please contact Christina Johnson at 318-228-7083.
Tours will NOT be cancelled due to rain or bad weather. Be sure to pack an umbrella!
Tickets are $30/person. Children under 12 are free. Your emailed confirmation/receipt is your ticket. You can display these tickets on your phone when you arrive. However, we keep accurate records of all ticket holders at each property should your emailed receipt be lost.
We invite you to experience the charm of historic Natchitoches during this annual holiday event. Proceeds from the tour benefit restoration of properties in the Natchitoches Parish area.
*Saturday tickets include a complimentary ticket to The Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame & Northwest Louisiana History Museum located at 800 Front Street.
You may begin at any of the 3 properties listed below:
The Sweet Cane Inn (926 Washington Street):
The Sweet Cane Inn was built for Congressman Phanor Breazeale in the late 1800’s. Among its many unique features, Sweet Cane Inn’s stately presence boasts of 12-foot ceilings, 11 fireplaces, and wall of stained glassed windows at the top of the stairs which curve and lead to seven beautifully spacious rooms and suites. This Victorian era home has been exquisitely restored and features the amenities you would expect of a top-notch B&B. For more information or to reserve a room at The Sweet Cane inn, visit www.sweetcaneinn.com.
Judge Porter House (321 2nd Street):
Built in 1912 by "Judge" Thomas Fitzgerald Porter and his wife Wilhelmina, the home was located on property that once stretched from Second Street to Bayou Amulet. The Blunt Lodge Hall, an existing building already located on the property, was carefully dismantled piece by piece so that materials could be used for the construction of the house which took only 3 months to build at a total cost of $1,500. The original contract for building the home can be seen as you go up the stairs to the second floor of the home. Judge Porter died in 1928 leaving the house to his wife, Wilhelmina, who died in 1935. She passed the house on to her daughter Louisa Elizabeth "Betty" Porter, who lived here until her death in 1962. Judge Porter, Wilhelmina and Betty Porter are all buried in the American Cemetery. Betty's two brothers and a sister sold the house the following year to the Charles E. Kirsh family. It remained in that family for two generations before it was purchased in 1987 by the Rachal’s. In 1987, Mark and Sharon Rachal began a monumental restoration project on the house and in 1994 the current owner totally redecorated the interior and landscaped the grounds. In 1995 the house was opened to the public for the first time on the Natchitoches Historic Foundation's annual Fall Pilgrimage. In June of 1996 the house was opened as the "Judge" Porter House Bed and Breakfast. The Bed and Breakfast features four bedrooms with two parlors and a Guest House. The architectural style of the house is eclectic, using styles common for the Turn of the Century. The two-story gallery which wraps around two sides of the house suggest a Queen Anne influence, while the colossal columns resting on brick pillars suggest Colonial Revival. Located in the heart of the National Historic District, the house is embraced with lofty live oak trees planted by the original owner, Judge Porter. Just over 3,000 square feet, there are 33 windows in this house with 15 over 8 feet in height. These windows were commonly used as passageways onto the gallery. The ceilings are 11.5 feet and there are five fireplaces. The floors, which are all original to the house, are heart pine. The Judge Porter House operates as a bed & breakfast and is available for rent. For more information visit www.judgeporterhouse.com
Queen Anne (125 Pine Street):
As their last home, Major Charles Joseph and Annie Strechan Greene, built their Victorian home in 1905. The house has had many changes over the years. Major Charles Greene Sr. was born in 1847 and served in the civil war as a messenger. Annie Strechan, who was born in 1866, met Charles Greene Sr. in Colorado Springs and in 1881 when Charles was 34 years old, he married Annie, who was 15 years old. They had six children, Helen, Jessie, Charles Jr, Rob, Alexander and Annie, who were born in 1900. They moved to Natchitoches in 1899 when Charles was hired as a receiver for the state land office. Major Greene lived in Natchitoches until his death on April 11, 1933, at 86 years old. The widowed Mrs. Annie Greene lived out her remaining years in the house until she died on July 24, 1958. She was 92 years old. Both Major Charles Greene and his wife along with their children are buried in the American Cemetery. Their 2nd oldest daughter, Miss Jessie Greene was a Natchitoches schoolteacher and lived here until her death in 1965. The house saw some bleak years as ownership changed hands several times including becoming home to a fraternity house. From 1947-1980 several fraternities occupied the house including the Kappa Sigma, Kappa Alpha and Sigman Tau Gamma. They finished the third story of the property which rises two and ½ stories above the 2nd floor. The third story had 3 bedrooms. The original shaker shingles are still visible on the third floor. Today the third floor is used as storage. At some point the second story gallery was removed during the time the Fraternity owned the home. This 2nd story gallery was added back to the home around 2006 by the Howells. In 2008 the property was purchased by the current owner from the Howells who opened the house As the Queen Anne Bed and Breakfast in early 2000. The house has 4 bedrooms on the second floor, all with private baths. The fifth guest room is in the library of the home and is located on the first floor. The home was furnished in the Queen Anne style while the bathrooms were modernized. The Queen Anne House operates as a bed & breakfast and is available for rent. For more information visit www.queenannebandb.com