Public oohs and ahhs were heard from an excited crowd at Pilgrimage’s morning and afternoon house showings Friday. The Smitherman and Linden houses were just two of the historic homes showcased during the event.

Elizabeth and Alex Easters enjoyed the morning tour of the Smitherman house, owned by Stephen and Erika Smitherman.

“It was very interesting,” Elizabeth said. “I liked the color of the house. The floors and staircase were just gorgeous.”

The couple viewed an authentic picture dated back to World War I and historical documents dating back to 1866. They were impressed with the house’s history.

“I like the old history connected with it,” Alex said. “I liked the detail in the woodwork and the historical documents and deeds.”

Even students, dressed in their historically accurate attire, were hostesses for the event.

JoAnna Smith, the youngest Smitherman daughter, who served as one of the home’s hostesses, said this is her first time working with the Pilgrimage. When she was younger, Smith said, she enjoyed dressing up in hoop skirt dresses.

“Pilgrimage is a great chance for people to come through Selma and hear the history and learn more,” Smith said.

Morgan Academy student Lauren Barnes, 14, proudly walked in her green silk hoop dress on the house’s porch. This is her second time hosting Pilgrimage.

“I was a hostess for Sturdivant Hall last year and it’s a lot of fun,” Barnes said. “I enjoy dressing up and meeting new people. I like seeing everyone’s faces when they see the history of the houses.”

Lauren, along with another hostess, Hannah Creech, will also host the McPhillips House, located at 610 Selma Ave., today.

Katianne Middleton, 15, is hosting the Linden Home, at 626 Selma Ave., with her friend Anna Kate Mock-Jordan, for the first time. Middleton wore the same off-white dress her mother wore during the very first Pilgrimage. Jordan said each Pilgrimage is a learning opportunity.

“Each time you host you find out a lot more about the house,” Jordan said. “It’s nice to dress up but learning the history is what I like most.”

Bunny Gamble, Linden house chaperone, said she’s an avid fan of the Pilgrimage and old houses.

“I’ve lived downtown for six years now,” Gamble said. “People love to walk and drive by the homes and desire to come in and see the homes but never get to. Pilgrimage gives visitors that chance.”

Pilgrimage will continue Saturday with tours beginning at 9 a.m. at the Burns house (618 Tremont St.), the Ullman-Kornegay-Wait home (716 Dallas Ave.) and the McPhillips House (610 Selma Ave.). The homes that will host tours beginning at 1 p.m. will be Brownstone Manor (330 Lapsley St.), the Linden home (626 Selma Ave.) and Smitherman home (308 Church St.).

Tours at area museums, including the Vaughan-Smitherman Museum, Sturdivant Hall and Old Depot Museum will be going on throughout the day.

The final event for the annual Selma Pilgrimage will be the paranormal tour, this year held at Kenan’s Mill from 7 to 10 p.m. For more information contact Davies at 327-0692.

Visitors can purchase tickets to Pilgrimage at the Vaughan-Smitherman Museum, located at 109 Union St., from 8 to 4 p.m.