If you want relief from holiday letdown or cold weather doldrums, the Historic Natchez Foundation invites you to come to Magnolia Bluffs Hotel, 645 South Canal St., for our annual meeting from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday. Magnolia Bluffs Casino and Hotel promises great food and will open two cash bars. The event is free and open to the general public.

During the past year, Magnolia Bluffs Hotel has undergone a transformation. The hotel is newly renovated throughout and decorated in a cheerful mid-century modern theme. The location of this year’s annual meeting recognizes the important role that Magnolia Bluffs Casino and Hotel plays in the success of the Great Mississippi River Balloon Race. Magnolia Bluffs is a $10,000 sponsor and the major provider of pilot hotel rooms. Both the Historic Natchez Foundation and the Great Mississippi River Balloon Race committee want to show appreciation for the company’s sponsorship and give the Natchez community an opportunity to tour the renovated hotel. Several hotel rooms will be open for self-guided tours.

HNF members and guests can enter the hotel from the front or rear entrances, both of which are handicap accessible. With the temperature predicted to reach 75 on Thursday, many people may even want to enjoy a cocktail in the newly renovated swimming pool area.

The foundation also looks forward to introducing the Natchez community to Nicole Harris who began work on Jan. 3 as the foundation’s first full-time curator of collections. Nicole will be in charge of the library, archives (which includes the historic Adams County public records), and a growing museum collection. Nicole has taught at the university level and has experience in curating archaeological collections. With the recent hiring of a full-time curator, the foundation has taken a major step toward fulfilling the community’s dream of a Natchez history museum. Historic preservation, however, continues to be a top priority, and HNF’s professional staff has prepared successful grant applications for more than a half million dollars toward the restoration of Holy Family Church, Magnolia Hall and Temple B’nai Israel.

The annual meeting will conclude with a short business meeting at 7 in the hotel banquet room to elect new board members, approve a change in the foundation by-laws and present annual awards for 2016.  Please join us on Thursday evening.
Mimi Miller is the executive director of the Historic Natchez Foundation.