Favorite Places and Spaces: Natchez
Wednesday, August 1, 2012 Natchez, Mississippi sits high on the bluffs of the Mississippi River and was established as a city by the Spanish in 1716. Throughout the years following, the Spanish, French and English all inhabited the city that once boasted half of America’s millionaires. Along with that great wealth, due to the many cotton barons that flocked to the area, there was great architecture.
As one of the oldest and most historic cities in the Deep South, Natchez boasts buildings and architectural details that define what is antebellum. The city has more antebellum mansions than any city in the South and its homes and historical streets have been the subject of thousands of books, magazines and newspaper articles.
Dunleith is one of the most photographed antebellum homes in the nation. It is known for its white collonade that wraps around the exterior of the home. It is also where I had my wedding reception.
"Dunleith was built in Greek revival style, with 26 Tuscan columns surrounding the house. The brick and stucco columns support a double gallery with intricately designed wrought iron railings spanning the columns. Jeffersonian windows extend from the floor to the ceiling on the first floor, providing ventilation and easy access to the gallery from any room." History of Dunleith
Many of the exquisite details seen on plantation homes as well as residential homes in the area are plantation shutters, wrap-around porches, gas lamps, decorative roofs, intricate wood work, floor to ceiling windows, center halls, classical columns and capitals, elaborate corbels, brass hardware, iron railings, and yards adorned with moss draped live oaks, magnolia trees, crepe myrtles and white, wrought-iron lawn furniture. Street upon street of downtown Natchez is study in the classical architectural details of the 19th century.
Wrough iron gate found in an alley in downtown Natchez.
Wrought iron corbels found under a porch on Main Street, Natchez.
Wrought iron portico found on the front of a house on Washington Street, Natchez.
Wrought iron porch found on the front of the former Dixons building in downtown Natchez. My grandmother once owned a gift shop housed in this building.
Transom windows above the front door of a home found on Washington Street in Natchez.
Another elegant entryway flocked by floor-to-ceiling windows found on the front of the antebellum home Auburn.
Plantation shutters, gas lanterns and floor-to-ceiling windows adorn the building that once housed Molasses Flats.
The top of a downtown Natchez building. The roof line of downtown is one of the area's standout features.
Another colorful business found in downtown Natchez that displays architectural details from the late 19th century.
A store on Main Street, Natchez.
Glen Auburn, one of my favorite private homes in Natchez, display classic Greek Revival architecture.
Different porch balustrades create homes that have tons of front porch character. All of these homes are found in the historic district in Natchez.
Unusual asbestos roof tiling is found on many homes in the historic district in Natchez.
The historic, Greek Revival antebellum home, Auburn is now a museum dedicated to Southern History.
A private residence, the Baily House, has beautiful corbels, columns, capitals, balusters and relief work found on its exterior.
Wrought iron lawn furniture found in the front lawn of Auburn is a very common site in Natchez.
Crepe Myrtles line the streets of the historic downtown. They frame the streets in a picturesque fashion and charm that has become symbolic of Natchez.
Now that you’ve been wowed by the few examples of beauty that abound in Natchez, I proudly share with you Natchez is my hometown. I have had the incredible pleasure of spending many years of my life in this storybook town sharing the stories of the prior residents every year in the Spring Pilgrimage. And to add icing to the cake, I have had the incredible opportunity to spend this entire summer back home spending time with my family and friends as well as sharing the place I proudly boast as my hometown.
Reader Comments (2)
Brings back a lot of fond memories. Time can stand still in Natchez allowing these great homes to take you back to a gracious era of hospitality and opulence.
Now if our traveling writer would post some pix from her youth in full Natchez Pilgrimage costume!
Beautiful Elise!! Thank you for the tour - hope all is well and look forward to catching up in the fall!