Founded in 1716, Natchez is a small town in the south-west of Mississippi. During its hey-day, it was the most important port in the entire state due to its trade of cotton. With a majority of its population engaged in cotton trade, this little town of approximately only 16000 people is home to some of Mississippi’s most affluent families and can be witnessed in the various beautiful mansions and large estates, mostly built in Greek revival style.
Most of these buildings in Natchez are now tourist centers, open for the public all year round. When in this beautiful city, be sure to follow this list of things to do and see.
Longwood
Natchez is home to a host of antebellum mansions, with Longwood being the most prominent one. Built in 1858 by Dr. Haller Nutt, Longwood is popularly known as “Nutt’s Folly” by the locals of Natchez, and is the largest octagonal mansion in America, which has found its place on the National Register of Historic Places in U.S. and is considered a National Historic Landmark. The mansion is known for its onion shaped dome built in the byzantine style. While the first floor of the mansion is equipped with heirlooms, the upper floors remain unfinished. Out of the massive 32 rooms originally planned for the house, only 9 rooms on the basement floor were completed due to Dr. Nutts death in 1864.
Grand Village of the Natchez Indians
Known as the Fatherland Site, the Grand Village of the Natchez Indians is a 128 acre site that features 3 pre-historic earth-work mounds of Native America as well as a reconstructed Natchez Indian house. The construction of the village complex started around 1200 CE. The mounds were built by the Pre-historic Plaquemine culture and was inhibited by the Natchez Indians between 700-1700 A.D. The important mounds here are the Great Sun’s mound, the temple mound and a third abandoned mound. The entire village is laden with history best understood on a guided tour taken to the village. This one should not be missed.
Natchez National Historical Park
As is evident by now, the town of Natchez has a very rich heritage and culture and the Natchez National Historical Park is just one of the many parks that deals with Natchez’s cultural history. Three important sites at the park are the Melrose Plantation, William Johnson house and of course, Fort Rosalie. Fort Rosalie was built by the French in the 18th century. While you can see the fort from afar, the site is actually not open to the public. The Melrose Plantation was the estate of State Senator and Lawyer John T. McMurran who lived in Natchez during the civil war of America, while the William Johnson House belonged to William Johnson, a free Afro-American barber who lived in Natchez, and whose diary was published.
Dunleith
The charm of the Southwest is not unknown. Built in 1856, Dunleith is now a historic Inn and the last surviving example of Mississippi’s Plantation houses. Dunlieth is recognized as a National Historic Landmark. This antebellum mansion, rich in history and old world charm, is built in the Greek revival style with fully encircling colonnades.
Magnolia Hall
Also popular as the Henderson-Britton House, the Magnolia Hall was built in 1858 and is one of the last great mansions ever built in Natchez, before the Civil War broke on American land. Unfortunately, this stupendous Greek-revival mansion was not spared in the war and endured a lot of damage. So much so that a cannonball is said to have landed in its kitchen, destroying it completely! The Magnolia House is particularly intriguing to tourists due to paranormal activities reported in the mansion.
Natchez Trace Parkway
The Natchez Trace Parkway is 444 miles long Parkway that starts from Nashville in Tennessee, crossing three states until it reaches its eponymous end in Mississippi. The Parkway was said to be at its busiest between the years 1800 and 1820, when thousands of boatmen who sailed down the Mississippi River to Natchez returned home, either on foot or on horseback.
Emerald Mound
Close to the Natchez Trace Oarkway, the Emerald Mound, locally known as the Selsertown site is America’s second largest ceremonial mound. Another national Historic Landmark, this mound is 35 feet high and has a base of 770 by 435 feet. The Emerald mound is an artificial plateau built ingeniously by depositing earth on the sides of the natural hill. It is now a popular picnic spot and if you climb to the top, you will see a vast lawn. It is a great place to go visit, especially in the spring months.
Port Gibson
After exploring all the Antebellum across Natchez, make sure to take a short trip to Port Gibson, a small town on the outskirts of Natchez, considered to be just a beautiful. Port Gibson is also home to lovely pre-war mansions that remain unspoilt over the years. Take a little while to visit Port Gibson’s first Presbyterian Church to see the intricately built gold-leaf hand on the Church’s steeple. You will also see beautiful chandeliers in the interior of the church taken from the steamboat Robert E Lee. Port Gibson has also found a place on the National Register of Historic Places.
If you have not yet had your fill of the stupendous antebellum mansions, you could also visit the Auburn antebellum house, the Rosalie Mansion and Stanton Hall, all of which have their own story to tell.
Natchez famous for these antebellum homes has as many as 668 of them, most built in the Greek-revival style. Because of the effects of the Civil War of America most of them suffered damage. Over the years, they have been revived and preserved as National Historic Landmarks. Natchez has an aura of Nostalgia and for history buffs, it is definitely a place worth visiting.
Be the first to comment