Day (23) Longwood Mansion, Natchez National Historic Park, Melrose Mansion, Natchez in Historic Photographs

 

There has been no break in the heat and humidity – something neither one of us enjoy. Traveling South this time of the year is sure different then traveling out West.

Our first stop was the Natchez National Historical Park established by Congress to preserve and interpret the history of Natchez, MS. The Mississippi River brought success and prosperity to some enslavement and despair to others.

We first toured Melrose Mansion. Fortunately we were able to take some pictures inside. It was quite attractive and a mansion one could live in comfortably. The home is undergoing an exterior restoration to bring it back to its original beauty.

LINK:

Melrose Mansion LINK

 

The interior was very nice and furniture quite beautiful.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Remnants of a 16 person outhouse. Can’t imagine sitting with 15 other people!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

 

Ronnie the Rebel

Then it was off to  Longwood,the largest Octagonal house in America. It is an example of the mid-nineteenth century “Oriental Villa” style. The great octagonal rotunda is open to the entire six stories and crowning the whole rotunda  is a Byzantine-Moorish dome with a 24-foot finial.

LINK:

Longwood Photos LINK

Info LINK

The first level of the home is finished but the rest of the home is not. We were prohibited from taking pictures on the first level but we were able to capture the unfinished portions of the mansion.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Looking out at one of the balconies that surrounds the mansion.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The signage in Natchez is mostly non-existent and the directions to locations very vague. So off we were again looking for Natchez in Historic Photographs. Nowhere did any of the literature mention that the display was located in the First Presbyterian Church.

LINK:

Church Facts

 

Tiffany leaded glass windows in the church.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Representing the work of three photographers, the more then 500 pictures tell the story of of Natchez from the Civil War era to World War II. The photographs spanned 8 rooms and really showed how integration was present in Natchez long before integration was mandated by the government.

Natchez had a large population of northerners so many black people were free to own their own businesses and homes. The photos clearly showed that many of the black citizens were very wealthy and worked side-by-side with their white counterparts. 

Interior of the Church

Back at the CG we took Jewel for a walk and spent some time enjoying the lake.

Tomorrow is our last day in Natchez and we believe we have covered a lot of territory. Since we are in the Bible Belt there are lots of churches and some quite magnificent. We plan to visit a few of those churches tomorrow.