The Rainwater Observatory and Planetarium in French Camp sits on the location of an outdated buying and selling publish and inn, providing guests each a visit ahead into house and a visit again to the early days of the Natchez Hint.
When Louis LeFleur established a buying and selling publish and inn on the Natchez Hint in 1810, he most probably watched the celebrities at night time. There most likely wasn’t a lot else to do in a darkish, wooded space, and with out the expertise we’ve right now, ol’ Louis certainly relied on the celebrities as a navigational machine.
At present’s stargazers have it rather a lot simpler. Those that are severe about learning the celebrities journey from all around the state to go to French Camp, the very settlement the place Louis LeFleur began his buying and selling publish. They go there due to the Rainwater Observatory and Planetarium.
The Choctaws referred to as the settlement The Frenchman’s Camp, which later grew to become shortened to French Camp. Presbyterian missionaries established a college for women on the settlement in 1885, named the Mississippi Institute for Women. The college was so profitable {that a} college for boys, referred to as French Camp Academy, was established the identical 12 months.
The women’ college was destroyed by fireplace in 1915, resulting in the 2 colleges mixed into one. In 1950, French Camp Academy was reorganized underneath the course of an interdenominational board of trustees. As vibrant as ever, there at the moment are 170 college students boarded on the Christ-centered house and college. The city of French Camp is a 900-acre group positioned 90 miles north of Jackson, and sixty miles south of Tupelo. The city has a inhabitants of 175, which incorporates many FCA graduates in addition to employees members on the college.
One of many methods the college is supported is thru proceeds from the Historic Village, the place guests can journey again in time to expertise what life was like within the 1800s. It’s a glimpse into the times of the early Natchez Hint, when the fantastically wealthy walked alongside the tragically poor on the rutted roadway that ran between Natchez and Nashville, two of the bigger cities within the South.
The Village contains a mattress and breakfast, the place many stargazers keep when visiting the observatory. After discovering a lot to discover, a snug mattress at night time is welcomed. The primary mattress and breakfast opened to guests in 1986. It presents lodging for as much as eight folks in one among two log cabins that have been constructed between 1840 and 1870. The cabins have been moved from Eupora, Mississippi to French Camp in 1986 and positioned facet by facet, joined along with an addition to match the interval structure. Every of the 4 rooms has a personal tub. There are many locations to unwind, together with the spacious household room on the primary flooring and balcony sitting space upstairs. A entrance deck is ideal for chatting and enjoyable.
A second cottage opened in 1990. The Mattress and Breakfast Junior is constructed of wooden from a number of 1800s buildings. It sleeps as much as six folks. The Burford Cabin was moved to French Camp from West Level, Mississippi. The 1800s dogtrot cabin is handicapped-accessible and sleeps as much as 4 folks. The most recent addition to the inn is the Carriage Home, which sleeps as much as six folks. Constructed on the location of an 1800s cabin, the Carriage Home options the unique hearth.
The Council Home Café was added in 2019. Owned and operated by FCA, the restaurant is styled in a country French nation décor. A big out of doors deck permits diners to get pleasure from meals al fresco in entrance of a giant hearth. The restaurant presents generous-sized sandwiches, selfmade soups and bread, and salads. Don’t overlook dessert. Each Mississippi Mud Cake and bread pudding are on the menu. Earnings from the restaurant fund scholarships for college kids. The restaurant additionally supplies a invaluable coaching alternative for college kids.
The Kids of God Pottery Studio opened in 2011 within the historic Publish Workplace constructing in French Camp. College students study all of the steps of creating pottery and promote their items within the Log Cabin Reward Store. The present store options arts, crafts, jams, and jellies handcrafted by college students and native artisans. Demonstrations are additionally held within the present store, which is an outreach ministry with income supporting the college’s packages and ministry.
The Rainwater Observatory is an academic ministry of French Camp. The power is a one-of-a-kind window to the splendors of the universe. Astronomy-related programming is designed for quite a lot of totally different teams and organizations. As many as 200 teams make the most of the ability annually. A campsite is on the market on website. Indoor displays embody a powerful meteorite assortment, and outdoor is a large-scale photo voltaic system mannequin and a solstice-equinox alignment exhibit.
