The following toast was offered by the St. Charles Historical Foundation at an “Evening with the Notables” gala, the opening event of the Louisiana Purchase Bicentennial Celebration held at Destrehan Plantation on January 18, 2003: “To our ancestors who settled this great land of Louisiana and to those brought in bondage for their perseverance, courage and ingenuity in carving out our unique cultural heritage within this great Louisiana Territory, embodying the spirit of all who came to this United States of America.”
In 2003, in conjunction with the Louisiana Purchase Bicentennial Celebration in St. Charles Parish, the St. Charles Historical Foundation developed several projects to commemorate that special occasion.
Read the ‘Night with the Notables’ play script (PDF)
Read Tonti’s letter from the play (PDF)
This text is copyright © material by Marilyn Richoux, Joan Becnel and Suzanne Friloux, from St. Charles Parish, Louisiana: A Pictorial History, 2010.
