The city of Selma wants you to come and experience the southern hospitality and rich history of pre- and post-Civil War Selma with its annual Pilgrimage, to be held March 18-19.

Sponsored by the Selma-Dallas County Historic Preservation Society, the Pilgrimage began in 1976. The tour encourages visitors to view antebellum-styled homes, museums and churches and experience re-enactments.

Nancy Smith, chair of pilgrimage, said this two-day event will include a tour of Old Live Oak cemetery, a paranormal investigation at Kenan’s Mill and an antique car show in Heritage Village, on the corner of McLeod Avenue and Mabry Street.

“Selma, during Pilgrimage, is spectacular,” Smith said. “Things are blooming everywhere and it’s great. It’s such a delight to experience these houses and if we can share the joy of living in these houses, then all the better.”

Tickets for the event will be available on both March 18 and March 19 at Vaughan-Smitherman Museum. Smith said prices vary depending on what visitors want to see.

Smith also said the antique car show and Kenan’s Mill, where the public can watch corn being ground and made into homemade cornmeal, is free. In addition, Smith encourages the public to view the Foundry, at the foot of Water Avenue, a factory that produces metal, for a cost of $5.

Candace Johnson, tourism director for the city of Selma, said this year’s pilgrimage is different than year’s past.

“We’ll have two never-before-seen houses on the Pilgrimage,” Johnson said. “There will be three morning houses and three afternoon houses (to view), so we’re excited.”

The six homes to be toured: The Burns House located on 618 Tremont St., an 1880s Victorian-Style home; Ullman-Kornegay-Wait House, 716 Dallas Ave., a late 1800s Queen-Anne style home; Brownstone Manor (Golson House), 330 Lapsley St., a 1905 neo-classic style home; Platt-Gayle-Linden House, 626 Selma Ave., an 1850 pre-Civil War style home; McPhillips House, 610 Selma Ave., built in 1907; and Voeglin-Barker-Smitherman House, located at 308 Church St., a Greek Revival house built in 1870.

The two first-time homes will be the Ulman-Wait house and the Burns home.

Johnson said the public can view morning houses between 9 a.m. until 1 p.m., and afternoon homes from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. A $10 ticket will allow visitors to view one house. But, there are discounts available to those guests wanting to view multiple homes.

“We’re excited about the antique car show coming back,” Johnson said. “There will also be junior hostesses representing area high schools, wearing hoop skirts and helping out. People can also have their pictures taken with a Southern Belle.”

For more information about the event, visit the new website at www.selmapilgrimage.org or for ticket information call 412-8550.