best plantations to visit in natchez ms

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This Is My South

A travel guide to the Southern USA

Visiting Natchez Historic Homes and Plantations

December 13, 2019 By Caroline Eubanks 7 Comments

Like so many towns along the Mississippi River, Natchez , Mississippi was home to lavish plantations and farms where cotton and other products could be shipped up or downstream to market. Cotton planters became millionaires but at the cost of the enslaved labor.

Some of these historic homes in the 300-year-old town are still standing and are open to tours. They’re a popular day trip for those traveling with the river cruises. Some homes are only open during the Natchez Pilgrimage , seasonal tours of homes, but others are open year-round.

During these pilgrimages, you can visit multiple homes for one price. Most can be seen by a group tour, which we’ve linked to, as well as independently by renting a car from the airport rental car  counters in Jackson .

A Note On Plantations:  These homes have a dark history that shouldn’t be ignored. Only you can decide whether this is something you’re interested in doing. Read  this post  for more perspectives on both sides of the debate.

This post contains affiliate links.

Auburn is an antebellum mansion built in 1812 by Levi Weeks, who had fled New York after being tried for murder, for Mississippi’s first attorney general. It is built in the Greek Revival style with porticos and columns as well as a stunning unsupported spiral staircase.

Book your tour of Auburn Museum & Historic Home .

Choctaw Hall

Choctaw Hall was built in the Federal and Greek Revival styles in 1836. It has dramatic double porches. Today it operates as a bed and breakfast and event venue. Tours are offered from Wednesday to Sunday at 11 am, 1 pm, and 3 pm.

Book your tour of Choctaw Hall or spend the night at Choctaw Hall .

Lansdowne is an antebellum plantation set on over 700 acres and is still owned by descendants of the original family. It contains much of the original decor and furnishings and has never undergone a restoration. Tours are offered on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 3 pm. It also operates as a bed and breakfast and event venue.

Book your tour of Lansdowne .

Longwood is the most unique antebellum home in the country, built in a circular “Oriental-style” mansion. Built for a cotton planter, all work stopped during the Civil War and never continued. Tours of the home go through the basement, where the family lived, and the unfinished upstairs. It’s also open for seasonal ghost tours and was even featured in  True Blood .

Book your tour of Longwood Antebellum Mansion .

Magnolia Hall

Magnolia Hall was built in 1858 as a Greek Revival mansion, also known as the Henderson-Britton House. It was owned by Thomas Henderson, a wealthy cotton broker and merchant. A Union shell hit the kitchen during the Civil War. Tours are offered by the Natchez Garden Club and an upstairs exhibit features costumes.

Book your tour of Magnolia Hall .

Melrose was built in the Greek Revival design in the 1820s for lawyer John T. McMurran, who worked with Monmouth owner John Quitman. After the Civil War, he sold the home to Elizabeth and George Davis, a couple whose home, Choctaw, had been taken over by Union troops. It has furnishings from this time period. Tours are offered daily by the Natchez National Park Service .

Monmouth is a 26-acre estate with one of the oldest homes in Natchez, now serving as a restaurant and inn. It was built in 1818 and inhabited by John Quitman, who became a Mississippi Governor. The home offers its own tours and is a stop on the City Sightseeing tour. Restaurant 1818 has Southern favorites like fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and collard greens. 

Book your tour of Monmouth Historic Inn and Gardens or spend the night at Monmouth Historic Inn , a AAA Four Diamond property.

Rosalie Mansion

Rosalie Mansion overlooks the bluffs of the Mississippi River and was built in the 1700s. Named for the Countess of Pontchartrain, the home was owned by three families before being turned over to the Daughters of the American Revolution. It survived the Civil War by becoming a Union headquarters.

Book your tour of Rosalie Mansion .

Stanton Hall

Stanton Hall is a Classic Revival antebellum home that was built in the 1850s for an Irish cotton broker. It was built to resemble his home in Belfast, another name given to the home. It later became a women’s school and inspired the design for Disney’s Haunted Mansion . Today they operate tours as well as the Carriage House Restaurant, which has some of the best fried chicken around.

Book your tour of Stanton Hall or spend the night at Stanton Guest House .

Other Natchez Houses to Tour

In addition to the grand antebellum homes and plantations, Natchez also has other historic homes open for tours.

The House on Ellicott’s Hill was one of the first homes built in Natchez in 1797. Featuring Federal style elements, the house was purchased through a Spanish land grant. It is now open for tours, operated by the Natchez Garden Club. The 1951 film Show Boat was filmed at the home.

The William Johnson House was named for the freed slave that lived here, a barber. He owned slaves himself and his house and diary provide a picture of life in Natchez during that time.

See the city’s historic homes and attractions on the City Sightseeing Natchez Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour , an informative bus tour that makes twelve stops around town. Your pass is good all day, so take your time.

Where to Stay in Natchez, Mississippi

In addition to the historic homes offering both tours and accommodations, these Natchez mansions run their own bed and breakfasts.

Devereaux Shields House – Guests enjoy a full Southern hot breakfast and 24-hour coffee, sofa, and tea service at this Victorian bed and breakfast. Accommodation options include rooms in the main house and the adjoining cottage. 

Linden – A Historic Antebellum Bed and Breakfast – Located in a well-preserved antebellum mansion, the inn is set on seven acres. Built in 1785, residents include the United States senator Thomas Buck Reed.

The Burn Bed and Breakfast was built in 1834 and became an inn in 1978. Rooms and suites have private baths, cable television, wireless Internet, and access to the outdoor pool.

Brandon Hall Plantation was built in 1856 outside of Natchez. It went through a number of owners before becoming an inn and event venue. They also operate tours during the fall and spring pilgrimages.

About Caroline Eubanks

Caroline Eubanks is the editor of this website, a Lowell Thomas award-winning travel writer, and the author of This Is My South: The Essential Travel Guide to the Southern States. Her stories from the South have appeared in National Geographic Traveler, Afar, Thrillist, Roads and Kingdoms, and BBC Travel.

Reader Interactions

June 16, 2020 at 6:46 pm

Hi! We’re wondering if the historic Natchez homes and plantations are open now?

June 17, 2020 at 9:22 am

I don’t know. You’ll have to check with each website.

February 22, 2021 at 1:50 pm

Can you tour the homes without getting tickets through Natchez Pilgrimage? At NPT, you have to purchase separate tours for $20-$25 each. We only want to tour 3-4 and I was hoping for a ticket/pass that allows multiple home tours for one price.

March 24, 2021 at 1:41 pm

We usually purchase tickets at the Natchez Visitor Center when we get there. They usually have a package deal for 3 houses.

April 12, 2021 at 10:35 pm

I am assuming that Washington and Ellen Ford’s plantation was located in Natchez. Is the house still standing?

February 6, 2022 at 5:57 pm

Caroline – I’m researching my husband’s (Eubanks) family tree – they were enslaved in Jackson MS area. Any relation, possibly?

February 7, 2022 at 3:20 pm

Hi Jeannine, I’m not sure but would love to know! I think most of my family is based in GA and SC.

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The 12 Best Things to Do in Natchez, Mississippi

As the Southern cotton economy expanded on the back of slave labor in the early 1800s, towns emerged to transport the cotton on the Mississippi River. New Orleans , Memphis, Vicksburg, and Natchez are the four most famous of these towns.

Located high on the bluffs of the Mississippi River, Natchez, Mississippi, was established by French colonists in 1716. The defensible strategic location ensured that it would become a pivotal center for trade.

In the middle of the 19th century, the city attracted Southern planters, who built mansions to show off their vast wealth from the cotton and sugarcane trade. Natchez was where planters came to escape the heat and isolation of the plantations. It was the Hamptons of the South, the place where the rich relaxed and socialized.

I never heard of Natchez until a few weeks before I visited. While in Nashville , I met some local guys at a bar. Fascinated by my road trip plans , they gave me all the information they could on their home state of Mississippi. I mentioned my desire to see antebellum homes.

“That’s Natchez. If you want antebellum homes, Natchez is the place to be,” they agreed.

So, I drove to Natchez, with its dozens of pre-Civil War antebellum homes. As a former history teacher who specialized in pre–Civil War America, I have a significant interest in this part of the country. I’m fascinated by the hypocrisy and duality of pre–Civil War Southern society.

On the one hand, it was genteel, polite, and formal. On the other, it was brutally racist. Southern egalitarian views of chivalry, equality, and honor extended only to a small segment of society and they found no hypocrisy in owning slaves, whom they brutalized to no end.

( Note : Reams of essays and books have delved into Southern culture. If you’re looking to learn more, check out Ken Burns’s The Civil War and The Fall of the House of Dixie: The Civil War and the Social Revolution That Transformed the South .)

Today, Natchez remains a beautiful city and many of the historic homes are still here. Secession sentiment never ran high here and the city quickly surrendered to the Union Army in 1862. Therefore, none of the destruction that took place in other cities occurred here.

These days, Natchez trades in tourism instead of cotton. Visitors to the historic homes, surrounding Natchez Traces , and gambling on the riverboats sustain the tiny town.

But the old homes are the biggest draw.

By today’s standards, they are average suburban homes. You wouldn’t stop and think “Wow, that is a mansion!” But for the period, these homes were an ornate testament to the planters’ great wealth, with high ceilings, intricate wallpaper designs, and multiple stories. They were filled with fine china, exotic carpets, and expensive furniture.

There are over 20 homes in Natchez. I didn’t get to see them all, as many are private residencies. But I saw a lot and the following are my favorite historic homes to visit in Natchez:  

Construction began in 1859, however, the owner died before most of the house was completed, leaving the entire upper floor unfinished. The Civil War stopped the rest of the construction (to this day, only a handful of the rooms are finished)

Today, it’s one of Natchez’s most popular homes and you’re able to tour the home and read about its history. Be sure to wander the grounds, too. They’re beautiful!

Open daily from 9am-3pm with tours every 30 minutes. Admission is $25 USD.  

Rosalie Mansion

The mansion was built for a wealthy cotton broker. In 1863, after the Battle of Vicksburg, General Grant commandeered the home to use as his headquarters. General Gresham, who commanded Union troops in the region after Grant, continued to use the mansion as his headquarters for the duration of the war. There are all kinds of historic artifacts and furniture inside from the 19th century too.

Today, the mansion is on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places and is an official U.S. National Historic Landmark.

Open year-round with daily tours beginning at 9am. The last tour begins at 4pm and tours take around 45-60 minutes. Admission is $20 USD.  

Stanton Hall

In 1890, the estate became home to Stanton College for Young Ladies. In 1940, it began its transition to a historic home and museum and is one the U.S. National Register of Historic Places as well as the U.S. National Historic Landmark list and the list of Mississippi Landmarks.

Open daily. Tours begin at 9am and last 45-60 minutes. The last tour begins at 3pm. Admission is $25 USD.  

Melrose Mansion

In the 1970s, the mansion was used for elaborate parties and events before being turned into a museum and historic site. Like many of the antebellum homes here, it’s on both the U.S. National Register of Historic Places and the U.S. National Historic Landmark list. The house and grounds are now managed by the national park service.

The park is open daily, but the house is only open Wednesday-Sunday from 9am-4pm. Admission is $11 USD.  

Other Things to See and Do in Natchez

1. The Natchez Pilgrimage During the Natchez Pilgrimage in the spring, all of the private historical homes open up to the public. The costumed guides (some of which are descendants of the original owners) explain the history of the home, their family, and the region. It’s the city’s biggest annual event and there are some 20 homes on display.

2. Ghost Tours In a town with so much tumultuous history, including wars and oppressive slavery, it’s no wonder that there are all kinds of eerie and unsettling tales to be found in Natchez. If you’re a fan of the paranormal (or just want to do something unique), try taking a ghost tour. Natchez Ghost Tour offers ghost tours every night for $25 USD. You’ll hear all about Natchez’s haunting and spooky tales and get to see a side of the city most tourists miss.

3. Magnolia Bluffs Casino This casino is located on the Mississippi River in the town’s old mill. The mill opened in 1828 and operated until 1962, eventually being bought and turned into a casino. It’s small and a bit outdated, but they have plenty of slot machines and a few table games, and the views over the river are picturesque.

4. St. Mary’s Basilica This church was built in 1842 and took over forty years to complete. While the exterior is a little plain, the elaborate interior is beautiful, with colorful stained glass, statues, and a spacious vaulted ceiling. The original organ from 1882 is still in use as well. It’s on the National Register of Historic Places (the federal government’s official list of places deemed worthy of preservation).

5. The Emerald Mound This sacred hill just looks like a flat, grassy pentagon. However, it was once a well-appointed holy site. Constructed sometime between the 13th and 17th centuries, it was an elevated place of worship for the Plaquemine Native Americans. The mound itself covers eight acres. Ceremonial stone structures used to sit on top of the mound, which is 65 feet tall, though it is empty today. All kinds of animal bones have been found nearby, leading researchers to believe it was the site of religious or sacred activity. The mound is open to the public free of charge from 8am-5pm daily.

6. The King’s Tavern Visit the King’s Tavern, which was built in 1769 and is the oldest building in the city (and, according to legend, the most haunted). After the Revolutionary War, it was used as an inn and tavern, as well as where the town’s mail was delivered. Until the development of the steamboat, the tavern relied on both coach drivers and outlaws who stopped by in between trips. When the invention of the steamboat made travel in the region safer, business dwindled and it was eventually sold.

The restaurant is now closed, but you can still check out the building, and rumor has it that the new owners plan to offer mixology classes in the future.

7. Natchez Trace Parkway Enjoy the great outdoors by planning an adventure along this historic path in Natchez. The road has been used for centuries by Native Americans, settlers, and soldiers. It’s the perfect place to escape into nature during your trip and take in epic scenery like forests and waterfalls. The area is popular for biking, hiking, fishing, and camping. If you’re only in the area for a short time, make sure to at least save a few hours for a scenic drive.

8. Natchez Museum of African American History and Culture This museum opened in 1991 and highlights information about African American history in the Southern United States. The museum, managed by the Natchez Association for the Preservation of Afro-American Culture, seeks to showcase the cultural heritage and contributions of African Americans from the 1700s to the modern day.

Open Monday-Friday from 10am-4:30pm and Saturdays from 10am-2pm. Admission is free.

For a map of the area and suggested sites to include on your self-guided tour around town, check out this free tour from Visit Natchez .

Natchez is beautiful and elegant. I loved strolling around the streets, marveling at the beautiful homes, and sitting in the park as the sun set over the Mississippi. It was the highlight of my trip to the state.

One downside to the city is that it’s expensive. There are very few Airbnb options and private rooms cost at least $100 USD per night. For a budget hotel, you’re looking at at least $80 USD per night. (Of course, if you want to splurge you can also stay in some of the historic homes here, as many have been converted into B&Bs. But expect to spend at least $155-190 USD per night for those.)

But, while accommodation is expensive, food and drinks are relatively cheap so you can balance it all out.

Natchez may not be a budget travel destination, but if you are looking to learn about American history, see beautiful homes, and visit a destination off the beaten path for most travelers (visitors here tend to be from the surrounding region), visit Natchez. You won’t be disappointed.

Book Your Trip to Natchez: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight Use Skyscanner to find a cheap flight. They are my favorite search engine because they search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned.

Book Your Accommodation You can book your hostel with Hostelworld as they have the biggest inventory and best deals. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

• Safety Wing (best for everyone)
• Insure My Trip (for those over 70)
• Medjet (for additional evacuation coverage)

Looking for the Best Companies to Save Money With? Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use to save money when I’m on the road. They will save you money when you travel too.

Want More Information on the United States? Be sure to visit our robust destination guide on the USA for even more planning tips!

Got a comment on this article? Join the conversation on Facebook , Instagram , or Twitter and share your thoughts!

Disclosure: Please note that some of the links above may be affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you make a purchase. I recommend only products and companies I use and the income goes to keeping the site community supported and ad free.

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17 Best Things To Do In Natchez, Mississippi

Known for its antebellum homes and haunted history, this Mississippi River city has another side to reveal.

Valerie Fraser Luesse has been affiliated with Southern Living and its parent company since 1988. She has written some 30 Southern Journal essays for the magazine and extensively covered the unique cultural pockets of the South, including Acadian Louisiana, the Mississippi Delta, South Florida, and the Outer Banks of North Carolina. She released her fourth Southern novel with Revell in 2021.

After a notable obsession with yellow houses, historic homes, and glossy magazines as a child that lead to a degree in American Studies from Sewanee: University of the South followed by a jaunt through the Washington, DC art world, Zoë found her way as the Senior Home and Garden Editor with Southern Living. There she crisscrossed the region to produce inspiring interiors, entertaining, and holiday stories while also overseeing the Idea House franchise. After seeing more porches and Christmas trees than any other reasonable person can claim, she ventured out to pave new roads freelancing for various magazines and helping people bring magazine tearsheets to life inside private homes via interior decorating.

Explore Natchez Under-The-Hill

Taste your way through downtown, take a historic tour, choose a charming stay.

In Natchez, Mississippi, even the surrounding landscape beckons you toward a storied past. Roads cut canyons through red-dirt forests that eventually arrive at the city's famous bluffs. All along the way, oak limbs are spread wide. Welcome to the oldest town along the Mississippi River.

Today, Natchez is filled with surprises, thanks in large part to a cohort of young natives who wandered away and then returned home with new ideas. Revived efforts to highlight the area's African-American history, along with a rejuvenation of the downtown scene that includes a bevy of brand-new businesses, have brought the city into a new era. It's one of our favorite Mississippi towns to visit. Here's our list of things to do on your trip to Natchez.

Stroll The Riverside

Any tour of Natchez ought to begin where the city itself did—on the riverside strip of land known, suitably, as Natchez Under-the-Hill. The very first French colonists landed here before the town was established in 1716. In the past, the neighborhood was bustling—and occasionally raucous, full of fishermen and grocers working next to bordellos and bars. Today, stroll along the riverside and take in the views of the Mississippi River and the bridge connecting Natchez and Louisiana. Follow the Natchez Bluff Trail to find a spot to sit and watch the sunset.

Shop At The Silver Street Gallery & Gifts

Only one row of brick buildings has survived the river's floods, but they offer modern comforts behind a rustic veneer. Silver Street Gallery & Gifts is a bright and airy storefront with an eclectic collection of women's clothing, gifts, and river-themed trinkets.

silverstgifts.com , 27 Silver Street, Natchez, MS 39120

Watch Riverboats At The Camp Restaurant

The outdoor bar at The Camp Restaurant is a favorite spot for munching on burgers and sipping local and regional microbrews while the sun sets over the water. Head to this local gathering place to watch sports or see riverboats cruise by.

thecamprestaurant.com , 21 Silver Street, Natchez, MS 39120

Drink At Historic Under The Hill Saloon

For full frontier flavor, there is nowhere better than the Under the Hill Saloon , which purports to be the oldest tavern on the river. Dark wood and dusty brick walls, cluttered with centuries of river paraphernalia, will help you get into a suitably Huck Finn mood.

facebook.com/people/Under-The-Hill-Saloon/100057211160218 , 25 Silver Street, Natchez, MS 39120

Sip Craft Coffee

Stand on a downtown sidewalk, and you'll see enough historic storefronts to overwhelm you. A stroll through the heart of Natchez reveals an architectural gold mine, where you'll spot everything from austere Greek columns to whimsically carved gables. The ideal fuel for ambling can be found at Steampunk Coffee Roasters . Named for its intricate brass espresso maker that serves custom-roasted coffee and Italian-style espresso, this spot is a surprising treat in a town of about 14,000.

Owner Wilmer "Dub" Rogers, who had become accustomed to starting his day with espresso when he worked in Italy, started Steampunk in a late-1800s brick building to satiate his need for craft caffeine in town. You can get more than a caffeine fix there; the coffee house also offers chocolate, tea, and cigars.

steampunkcoffeeroasters.com , 706 Franklin Street, Natchez, MS 39120

See What's On Tap At Natchez Brewing Company

For daytime drinking, choose from excellent sour beers and other microbrews on tap at the family-friendly Natchez Brewing Company . Enjoy live music while sipping the day's features, and don't leave without trying the brick-oven pizza or one of the monthly food specials, like the Applewood Smoked Kielbasa with sweet slaw.

natchezbrew.com/home.html , 207 High Street, Natchez, MS 39120

Tap Your Toes At Smoot's Grocery

One of the latest additions to the town's burgeoning nightlife is Smoot's Grocery , which was previously a grocery store and also an "unofficial juke joint," according to manager Matt Willis. Now this tin-sided shotgun shack has been updated and lined with salvaged wood. The taps flow freely, pool balls knock, and the dance floor echoes with live roots music (from zydeco to Texas blues) late into the night.

smootsnatchez.com , 319 North Broadway Street, Natchez, MS 39120

Try Uniquely Local Fare At The Donut Shop

When it's time to refuel,  The Donut Shop  is the only place in town to enjoy a uniquely local combo: fried pastries and Mississippi-style hot tamales. Order a dozen homemade donuts to enjoy on the patio.

facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063503743228 , 501 John R. Junkin Drive, Natchez, MS 39120

Soak Up The Scenery At Bluff Park

At the edge of downtown, take in views of the Mississippi River from Bluff Park. Order a takeout dinner or dessert from Slick Rick's Cafe to enjoy on the lawn, and stay for a memorable sunset. Follow the path along the river, or relax in the shade of the gazebo. The bluff is a great spot for viewing hot-air balloons taking flight at the Natchez Balloon Festival every fall.

visitnatchez.org/listing/bluff-park , 101 South Broadway, Natchez, MS, 39120

slickricksfoods.com , 109 North Pearl Street, Natchez, MS 39120

Appreciate The Architecture At Longwood

Natchez offers endless home tours, three of which are essential. The largest octagonal home in the United States, Longwood spans six stories and 30,000 square feet and is topped with a stately dome. But it's still unfinished. Construction, which began in 1860, was cut short by the Civil War the following year. Seeing its grand interior unvarnished only underscores the original owner's ambitions for this palatial home. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a National Historic Landmark.

140 Lower Woodville Road, Natchez, MS 39120

See The 19th-Century Melrose Mansion

The National Park Service (NPS) offers detailed tours of the historic properties it manages. Melrose , a mid-19th-century townhouse, was passed on to each new owner with all of its original furnishings, making it an incredibly intact reflection of the past. The mansion was a former plantation, and visitors can learn about the role of the enslaved people there and view their quarters, as well as the carriage house, stable, and formal garden.

nps.gov/places/melrose.htm , 1 Melrose Montebello Parkway, Natchez, MS 39120

Roam Rosalie Mansion

Built in 1823, Rosalie Mansion also displays original artifacts. Tour the Federal-style town house and grounds, built on the site of the original Fort Rosalie, established by the French in 1716.

rosaliemansion.com , 100 Orleans Street, Natchez, MS 39120

Smell The Flowers At Monmouth

Get your steps in at the 26 acres of Monmouth Historic Inn & Gardens , a charming Southern setting that calls for a mint julep from the on-site bar Quitman Lounge & Study. Afterward, head for Restaurant 1818, where a white-tablecloth dinner is served in the mansion's old parlors.

monmouthhistoricinn.com , 1358 John A Quitman Boulevard, Natchez, MS 39120

Step Inside Historic Homes During Spring Pilgrimage

Every spring, some of the area’s grand homes and bed and breakfasts open their doors for exclusive tours during the Natchez Spring Pilgrimage . The public can tour more than 35 historic homes in the area, see many examples of architecture and furnishings, enjoy culinary and musical events, and stroll through gardens in bloom. Natchez Pilgrimage Tours will help you plan your tour experience, or purchase tickets at each individual house.

Book A Victorian Room At Devereaux Shields House

It's hard to go wrong with the many antebellum homes that double as bed-and-breakfasts. Choose from nine Victorian rooms and suites at the classic Devereaux Shields House , and be sure to spend ample time in the sunny courtyard and gardens.

dshieldsusa.com , 709 North Union Street, Natchez, MS 39120

Escape To Luxury At Magnolia Cottage

You'll find more relaxed luxury at the circa 1831 Magnolia Cottage , which is known for its delicious Southern breakfast and proximity to downtown attractions. The Greek Revival Home features a large front porch and private dining for candlelight dinners.

magnoliacottagebandb.com , 35 Homochitto Street, Natchez, MS 39120

Stay On A Budget At Hotel Vue

If you'd like a modern twist on your Natchez visit, Hotel Vue is a solid choice for budget travelers, with rooms starting at $72. As the name implies, the real treat is the setting: The hotel stands on a bluff with a sight line extending out into Louisiana.

choicehotels.com/mississippi/natchez/ascend-hotels/ms365 , 130 John R. Junkin Drive, Natchez, MS 39120

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15 Things to do in Natchez, Mississippi [With Suggested Tours]

Boasting with lots of antebellum mansions, Natchez in Mississippi is an interesting city to visit. The fact this is also the oldest city on the Mississippi River, Natchez would surely win your heart the moment you go here. Aside from enjoying the trip, you can also learn a lot about the area’s history. Visiting Natchez is surely an educational one. 

Because of its rich history and beautiful attractions, we listed down the things that you can do and visit in Natchez. This list will give you an idea of what to see and experience in each popular attractions. 

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Table of Contents

Best Things to do in Natchez, Mississippi

1. longwood.

This is the largest octagonal house in the United States. Longwood is considered as a National Historic Landmark. Boasting with a rich history, you’d have a meaningful tour here. Although its structure is unfinished, it still stands with beautiful and unique architecture.

Suggested Tour: Longwood Antebellum Mansion Ticket

2. Stanton Hall

Stanton Hall was founded in the 1850s. You will have fun learning about the history of the house. The house is also well-preserved and the tour is very informative. By going here you’d realized how wealthy the Natchez citizens are in the Antebellum era. 

Suggested Tour: Stanton Hall Ticket

3. Rosalie Mansion

Rosalie Mansion was built in 1823. With lots of knowledgeable tour guides, you won’t get bored while learning about the history of this antebellum mansion. Plus, Rosalie Mansion also has a beautiful view of the river.

Suggested Tour: Rosalie Mansion Ticket

4. St. Mary Basilica

This stunning church is a must-visit. Boasting with lovely stained glass windows, magnificent ceilings, and beautiful outside brick, this church will leave you in awe. The architecture is very picturesque and the church itself feels peaceful when you’re inside.

Suggested Tour: City Sightseeing Natchez Hop-On Hop-Off Tour

Melrose is an antebellum plantation. It offers a slavery exhibit. If you love seeing old mansions like from the 1700s or 1800s, then you shouldn’t miss Melrose. This is considered one of the most beautiful antebellum houses in Natchez, Mississippi. 

6. Natchez Visitor Center

A lot of helpful and friendly staff await you when you visit here in Natchez Visitor Center. It is loaded with lots of information on where to go and what to do during your stay in Natchez. It is highly recommended to go here first before you start your official trip.

7. Bluff Park

  View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Visit Natchez (@visitnatchez) on Mar 20, 2019 at 10:09am PDT

If you’re tired of the hustle and bustle of the city. If you’re craving for a relaxing and peaceful day or afternoon. You should head to Bluff Park. This is the perfect place to rest and relax as you look at the waters of the beautiful Mississippi.

8. Historic Natchez Cemetery

Have a lovely tour here in the Historic Natchez Cemetery. The views are amazing that you’d enjoy driving along its wide paths. This cemetery is very clean and rich in history, you’d be interested in looking at the old monuments and the dates on the tombs. Really a must-visit.

9. William Johnson House

This was the former house of a freed slave also known as the Barber of Natchez who became a real businessman in the mid 19th century. His name is William Johnson. His house was built in 1840. A tour here would offer you a glimpse of an inspiring story of a slave who worked hard and became successful. 

10. Choctaw Hall

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This house is filled with antique furniture. It is huge but was carefully restored. By going here, you’d see how beautiful this house is inside and out. It is also full of interesting facts. So, if you’re a fan of stunning antebellum homes full of historic finery, then go and visit Choctaw Hall.

Suggested Tour: Choctaw Hall Ticket

11. Emerald Mound

Have a quick visit to the Emerald Mount. It is considered as the second-largest Indian mound in the United States. As you go here and learned about its rich history, you’d be heartbroken about what happened to the Natives of this great land.

12. The Natchez Trace Parkway

Have a wonderful and peaceful drive in The Natchez Trace Parkway. Along the way, you can get a chance t o see turkey, deer, armadillo, and a lot more animals. There lots of history to stop and see along the way. So if you’re looking for a perfect road trip, this is the answer.

13. Natchez Museum of African American History and Culture

  View this post on Instagram   A post shared by MisterandMrs. (@traveling_happilyeverafter) on Feb 7, 2020 at 10:46am PST

This is a small museum that features exhibits on the rich history and culture of African Americans in the region. It is loaded with information such as exhibits that cover the era of slavery, the 20th-century wars and the Civil Rights movement. You’d definitely learn a lot here.

14. Natchez National Historical Park

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Natchez National Historical Park is the location of the three of Natchez’s most popular attractions. Namely, Fort Rosalie, the William Johnson House and the Melrose estate. A tour here is definitely a worth to try when you’re in Natchez.

15. Natchez Brewing Company

  View this post on Instagram   A post shared by JRL42 (@jrl42) on Feb 15, 2019 at 10:40am PST

Have a great beer at a great location in Natchez Brewing Company. An ideal place to visit with friends or family. The atmosphere is nice and welcoming. You can also have a delicious pizza while drinking their tasty beers. This is a must-visit if you’re looking for a place to enjoy.

Things to do with 3 days in Natchez, Mississippi

Day 1 in Natchez, Mississippi

Natchez Visitor Center – On your first day, before you start your official tour in Natchez, you should go to Natchez Visitor Center first. It will provide you with any information that you might need when you start your trip.

Longwood – This octagonal house in Natchez is a must-visit. Although it’s unfinished, it’s still stunning and is rich with history. 

Day 2 in Natchez, Mississippi

Natchez National Historical Park – On your second day, it is recommended to go to Natchez National Historical Park. Why? Simply because it is the location of the three important sites in Natchez. They’re Melrose , William Johnson House , and the Rosalie Mansion . No time would be wasted in this park.

Day 3 in Natchez, Mississippi

Stanton Hall – The design of this house is absolutely beautiful. It is very picturesque and contains a lot of rich history. It is well-preserved so you’d really feel like you’re back in the past.

Frequently Asked Questions about Natchez, Mississippi

1. Is it safe to travel to Natchez, Mississippi?

Natchez is relatively safe. When tourists go here, the most popular way to get around is by renting a car. And while driving, you won’t feel any danger along the way. Just be cautious all the time as you would whenever you go to other places.

2. When is the best time to visit Natchez, Mississippi?

If you want to have a more comfortable trip to Natchez, the spring season is the best time to visit. During the month of July, the city becomes busy as a lot of tourists go here. So, to avoid the crowd, you can come between March and April.

3. How to get to Natchez, Mississippi?

The main airport in Natchez, Mississippi is the Natchez–Adams County Airport. To go there, you need a connecting flight from the state or city that you’re coming from. Visit Skyscanner for cheaper and available flights.

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About the Writer

Hi there! I’m Fatima . My first major travel was in 2016 in the beautiful city of Cebu. After that, I got interested in traveling. Now I enjoy learning languages and other country’s cultures. My goal is to visit at least one country each year and to share my experiences with other people through writing or blogging. Witness my journey by following me on Instagram .

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Alerts in effect, the richest history on the mississippi river.

Discover the history of all the peoples of Natchez, Mississippi, from European settlement, African enslavement, the American cotton economy, to the Civil Rights struggle on the lower Mississippi River. Read More

Things To Do at Natchez National Historical Park

Last updated: March 17, 2023

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Best Plantation in Natchez - Brandon Hall Plantation

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• Brandon Hall Plantation

Best Plantation in Natchez

Monmouth Historic Inn

The Natchez Pearl

Natchez Grand Hotel And Suites

Guest House Mansion Inn

Magnolia Bluffs Casino Hotel

Days Inn by Wyndham Historic Natchez

Holiday Inn Express & Suites Natchez South, an IHG Hotel

Hampton Inn & Suites Natchez

Hotel Vue, Ascend Hotel Collection

Dunleith Historic Inn By J Collection Hotels

I was absolutely awed by this place. It is so beautiful. The grounds are well manicured. The home is stunning and I am not overstating this. The inside is immaculate and very well kept. The room was gorgeous and big. We met Rachael, who is the business manager and one of the owners, and she couldn't have been nicer. We also met her father who bought the place 6 years ago. He is one of the most outgoing person you will ever meet, although I must warn you, he has a handshake you will never forget. And then there is Michael who is your host. A great guy, a wonderful cook, and an excellent tour guide.

• Sleep Quality
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Thank you for the raving review! Travelers are always looking for feedback from previous guests before making a reservation and it's reviews like yours that encourage tourists to stay with us. Thank you!

Beautiful plantation that is very well kept and maintained. The people are very welcoming and friendly. Only about 10 mins from downtown Natzhez. We would definitely recommend this place for a peaceful, relaxing weekend. Located on the Natchez Trace.

Thank you for taking time to leave a review. We appreciate you choosing to stay with us and we look forward to your next visit!

I've always wanted to stay at a plantation and Brandon Hall was a great choice. It has everything you think of with a plantation - white pillars, wide porch with seats, and lots of land. Located on the Natchez Trace it's a bit of a drive from town. So glad that we knew where we were going the night it was pouring down rain. We stayed in the Louise Suite which was very nice. It's located on the first floor although there is a small elevator for rooms on the second floor. The suite also gives access to the library which we made use of to spread out. The bathroom seems a little out-of-date but it works fine. Mike was very attentive to our requests. The breakfast was very good, traditional Southern. Sitting on the front porch was a real joy.

Thank you for taking time to write a review, we really appreciate it!

The house was gorgeous and very nicely decorated, the property (garden and pond) was beautiful, hospitality was great.... The most romantic place I have ever stayed in! Mister MIke was very helpful, and being located on the Natchez Trace was a plus. We took a day long road trip on the Trace, which was interesting to experience.

We stayed one night on our way to New Orleans having left Shack Up Inn in Clarksdale the night before. The contrast provided a great holiday moment -leaving the shanty town-ness of Shack Up and breezing into the drive of Brandon Hall with it's grounds containing a fishing lake, grand magnolia trees and finally at the end of the drive, Mike welcoming us into the Hall. Mike offered a taxi service into Natchez that evening and put some wine to chill so we sat on the porch and looked out over the beautiful grounds in the humid evening, enjoying a glass of wine.The rooms were grand (not in a Yorkshire way!) but 'Grand' with very comfortable beds and were beautifully decorated.

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Natchez, Mississippi Antebellum Tour Homes

Year-round there are several Natchez homes open for public tours.

During March thru early April over 20 additional private homes are on tour during the Natchez Spring Pilgrimage of Antebellum Homes . A Fall Pilgrimage is held in late September thru early October.

Click any photo to view larger photos.

Stanton Hall

Built 1857 - 401 High Street. Open daily: 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Carriage House Restaurant on the grounds of Stanton Hall is open Wednesday through Monday for lunch from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Built 1860 - 140 Lower Woodville Road. Outbreak of the Civil War stopped construction of this octagon shaped home. Open daily: 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Photo Credit: Visit Natchez

more about Longwood

• William Johnson House

Built 1840 - 210 State Street. Mr. Johnson became a free black man at the age of 11. He kept a detailed diary of life in Natchez from 1836 to 1851. Open Daily: 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

more about William Johnson House

Rosalie Mansion

Built 1820 - 1822 - 100 Orleans Street. Overlooking the Mississippi River near the location where the Frenchman Bienville erected Fort Rosalie in 1716. Open daily: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Monmouth Plantation

Built 1818 - 36 Melrose Avenue. Built by Natchez Postmaster John Hankinson on 26 acres just outside of downtown Natchez. Open daily: 9:30 to 11:45 a.m. and 2 p.m. to 4:15 p.m.

Built 1842-1848 - 1 Melrose - Montebello Parkway. Melrose is operated by the National Park Service as part of the Natchez National Historical Park. Open daily: 10 am. to 4 p.m.

Photo Credit: Downtown Karla Brown

Magnolia Hall

Built 1858 - 215 S. Pearl Street. The last great mansion built in downtown Natchez prior to the Civil War. Open Thursday - Sunday every hour 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

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12 Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Natchez, MS

Written by Bryan Dearsley Updated Dec 25, 2023 We may earn a commission from affiliate links ( )

The little town of Natchez in southwestern Mississippi, founded in 1716, was once the most important port on the Mississippi River in the heyday of the cotton trade. As a result, the town has many beautiful and historically significant antebellum-era mansions and estates.

The pedestrian-friendly historic downtown core of Natchez is fun to explore on foot. It's here you'll find the town's best shopping experiences, as well as the best places to stay. It's also where you'll find places to eat, too, from casual home-cooking restaurants to cafés and fine-dining experiences.

At night, you can attend a live music event, often hosted in conjunction with a restaurant, or check out the roster of shows at Natchez Little Theatre, the state's oldest community theater. And for those on a fixed travel budget, you'll be pleased to learn that there are numerous free things to do in Natchez, from visiting its attractive old churches, to wandering its interesting old graveyards.

You can learn more about the best places to visit in Mississippi with our list of the top tourist attractions in Natchez.

See also: Where to Stay in Natchez

1. Antebellum-Era Stanton Hall

2. nutt's folly: longwood, 3. the scenic natchez trace parkway, 4. rosalie mansion: "our lady on the bluff", 5. natchez city cemetery, 6. auburn museum and historic home, 7. natchez national historical park, 8. emerald mound: "selsertown site", 9. natchez museum of african american history and culture, 10. historic jefferson college, 11. port gibson, 12. grand village of the natchez, where to stay in natchez for sightseeing, natchez, ms - climate chart.

Stanton Hall, also known locally as Belfast House, is one of the largest and most lavish antebellum mansions in the US. It was built in 1857 in the style of his Irish ancestral home by cotton grower Frederick Stanton and, along with its beautiful grounds, covers an entire two-acre city block.

After a spell as a girls' school in the early 20th century, the building fell into a state of disrepair but was brought back by the Pilgrimage Garden Club who restored the property. Today, visitors can tour the finely restored interior of the house, which is filled with original and antique furnishings.

Guided tours of Stanton Hall are also available. Feeling peckish? Afterwards, why not enjoy a meal in its Carriage House Restaurant. Its Sunday brunches are a popular treat among locals and visitors alike.

And after visiting, you might in fact feel as if this beautiful building seems a little familiar. It certainly should for anyone who has ever visited Disneyland, whose famous Haunted Mansion was based on this classic antebellum home. Stanton Hall is itself supposed to be haunted.

Other fine antebellum homes in Natchez to consider visiting include Magnolia Hall (1858), the Towers of Natchez (1798), and Lansdowne Plantation (1853). They can be visited through organized Natchez Pilgrimage Tours. Some of these fine old homes also now provide a variety of interesting accommodation options, often with B&B-style stays serving sumptuous Southern breakfasts.

Address: 401 High Street, Natchez, Mississippi

Another majestic mansion to visit while in Natchez is Longwood. Also often referred to as "Nutt's Folly," this stunning red-brick house was constructed in 1858 and is notable for its large Byzantine-styled dome. The home was built by Dr. Haller Nutt and is thought to be one of the largest octagonal houses in the US.

Due to the advent of the Civil War in 1861, the interior was never completely finished. However, the first floor family area, consisting of nine of the planned-for 32 rooms, is furnished with family heirlooms.

The unfinished upper floors are said to be haunted by the ghost of Dr. Nutt himself, and can also be toured. They reveal the truly unique architectural styling and work behind the construction of this fascinating home.

Address: 140 Lower Woodville Road, Natchez, Mississippi

Also known as "the Old Natchez Trace," Natchez Trace Parkway is a spectacular tourist road that follows the line of an old historic route that stretches 444 miles from Natchez all the way to Nashville, Tennessee .

First mentioned in 1733, the Natchez Trace route was at its busiest between 1800 and 1820. During this time, the crews of flatboats, which were simple vessels made of logs bound together and designed for a single downstream journey, sailed down the Mississippi to Natchez and returned home on foot or horseback.

Now designated as an All-American Road for its historical and scenic significance, the Parkway, runs past Emerald Mound, 12 miles north of Natchez. The second largest pre-Columbian site in the United States, it was occupied between 1250 and 1600 by the Mississippi people, ancestors of the Natchez and Choctaws.

Other tourist attractions along the route include Mount Locust, built in the 1780s, and the Chickasaw Village Site. Natchez Trace Parkway is also especially popular with cyclists and those who enjoy camping.

If you can, try to plan your journey to coincide with the spectacular fall colors, which draw many visitors. Some sections of the original trail can also be explored, including parts of the famous Sunken Trace.

Official site: www.scenictrace.com

Well known for its stunning views over the Mississippi River, the lovely red brick Rosalie Mansion sits on the site of the former French Fort Rosalie in Natchez, after which it's named. Known locally as "Our Lady on the Bluff," this magnificent home was built in the early 1820s and is notable for having served as the regional headquarters for Union troops in 1863. During these turbulent times, much of the artifacts and furniture on display today was placed in storage.

Lovingly restored since, it's now run as a museum and is furnished throughout with antiques from this period, most of them originally from the home itself. It's also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Be sure to allow additional time to explore the adjoining four-acre grounds, home to the Rosalie Historic Gardens.

Hour-long guided tours are available, as are self-guided tour options, and a gift shop is located on-site. There's also a genealogical library, which is of special interest for those wanting to investigate their Southern roots.

Address: 100 Orleans Street, Natchez, Mississippi

Official site: https://rosaliemansion.com

The Natchez City Cemetery, established in 1822, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and contains the remains of a number of residents buried in an even earlier nearby graveyard that can be traced all the way back to the 1700s. The cemetery is nicely maintained with uniquely designed iron fences.

Strategically placed benches offer superb views over the Mississippi, an especially pleasant experience at sunset. Numerous large and shady live oaks line its pathways. Be sure to spend time inspecting some of the more elaborate monuments and tombstones located here. These include a unique tomb that houses a wealthy individual who chose to be buried in his favorite rocking chair.

Guided tours are available, including a special once-a-year option known as Angels on the Bluff. This fun tour includes informative commentaries by descendants of those buried here. A self-guided tour is also available.

A short walk away is Natchez National Cemetery . Established in 1866, it serves as a burial site for some 7,000 Union soldiers and war vets.

Address: 2 Cemetery Road, Natchez, Mississippi

Set amid a 222-acre public park, Auburn is an 1812 red brick mansion designed in Greek Revival style. With features later often emulated in many other antebellum-era homes, it is considered one of the finest homes in the area of its time.

Of particular interest to architects was the grand entrance, which features tall Corinthian columns and a large upper-level balcony. The interior has been completely restored and furnished in period fashion, with a highlight being a delightful freestanding, unsupported spiral staircase.

If you are in the area in December, be sure to visit during their fun Christmas Open House. This popular event includes free guided tours and period baked goods. An on-site gift shop sells a large selection of related souvenirs.

Stratton Chapel Gallery , located in the First Presbyterian Church, is also worth a visit. It presents a fascinating historical perspective through its large collection of old photos dating all the way back to the 1840s.

Address: 400 Duncan Avenue, Natchez, Mississippi

Official site: http://auburnmuseum.org

Natchez National Historic Park deals with the cultural history of the town of Natchez and contains three important sites: Fort Rosalie, William Johnson House, and Melrose Plantation.

Your first stop, though, should be the Natchez Visitor Center. This popular destination contains maps and attraction details, as well as a number of interesting exhibits, audio-visual displays, and a bookstore.

Your next stop should be the Melrose Estate. This finely preserved antebellum mansion features sundry outbuildings, which have remained little changed since the 1840s. Highlights include guided interior tours, as well as self-guided tours of the outbuildings, including a sobering look at a slave cabin and gardens.

For another perspective of life during this period, visit William Johnson House. Notable as the former home of a "free man of color," Johnson's story is told through fascinating interactive exhibits and the furnished rooms on display.

Address: 210 State Street, Natchez, Mississippi

Official site: www.nps.gov/natc/index.htm

Emerald Mound, also known as the "Selsertown site," is located close to the Natchez Trace Parkway, and is the second largest Pre-Columbian ceremonial mound in the United States. Believed to have been constructed by predecessors of the region's Natchez people, it's a big site that covers eight acres and was created by depositing earth along the sides of a natural hill to create an enormous artificial plateau.

Emerald Mound would once have been adorned with temples and other religious sites and was used from AD 1250 to 1600 as a ceremonial center. A must-see attraction in Natchez, today it's a designated National Historic Landmark.

Address: Emerald Mound Road, Natchez, Mississippi

Official site: www.nps.gov/nr/travel/mounds/eme.htm

A great way to learn more about the history of African Americans in the South is to pay a visit to the Natchez Museum of African American History and Culture. Opened in the town's former post office in 1991, the museum provides a fascinating insight into the culture and history of African Americans in the region, from the times of the town's foundation in 1716 right up to the Civil War.

In addition to its displays of artworks, photos, documents, and artifacts, there are important exhibits dealing with issues such as slavery. It also includes details of the notorious Forks of the Road , once one of the country's largest slave markets. A memorial at the actual location of the market can be visited nearby.

Other notable displays deal with the Civil Rights movement and the tragic Rhythm Nightclub fire, which claimed the lives of more than 200 African American residents of Natchez. There are also displays related to the life of author Richard Wright. Educational and musical events are also held frequently.

Address: 301 Main Street, Natchez, Mississippi

Official site: www.visitnapac.net

Take an easy 15-minute drive west of downtown Natchez, and you'll find yourself in the neighborhood of Washington, home to Historic Jefferson College. Established in 1811 and in operation until 1964, the site is now run as a museum and public park.

And it's certainly a fascinating attraction to explore. Interesting displays and exhibits provide visitors with a chance to learn of life at the former military academy attended by well-known alumni, including Jefferson Davis, the former President of the Confederate States of America.

Buildings open to visitors include the kitchen and the various outbuildings that supported this important part of the college, as well as the West Wing and Prospere Hall. Afterwards, be sure to wander the mile-long T.J. Foster Nature Trail network on the property, popular for its wildlife and natural beauty. A number of easier-to-navigate trails are also available.

Please note: This fascinating attraction is currently only open to visitors who have made prior arrangements for their visit; see the official website below for details.

Address: 16 Old North Street, Natchez, Mississippi

Official site: www.mdah.ms.gov/new/visit/historic-jefferson-college/

The small town of Port Gibson is a nice side trip, either from Natchez or Jackson. A visit offers up a number of interesting attractions, along with good restaurants, hotels, and shopping.

It was thought by General Grant to be almost as beautiful as Natchez, which explains why it has remained relatively unspoiled. Visitors today can still enjoy seeing a number of well-preserved pre-war antebellum-era houses, supposedly saved after General Grant proclaimed the town "too beautiful to burn."

The famous Windsor Mansion, south of the town, was not so lucky. All that remains of this former mansion today are some impressive ruins.

The First Presbyterian Church in Port Gibson's historic district features a unique gold-leaf hand on the steeple, which points skyward. The interior of the church houses chandeliers from the Robert E. Lee steamboat. Notable as a stop on the Mississippi Blues Trail , Port Gibson is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Official site: http://portgibsonms.org

A great attraction for those interested in the area's rich native history is the Grand Village of the Natchez . Set amid some 128 acres, this important historic site was once home to an indigenous village that existed here in prehistoric times and which was occupied and in use right up to the early 1700s as an important political and religious center.

Evidence of three original ceremonial mounds were found, parts of which have since been restored. A highlight of a visit is checking out the on-site museum, which contains a number of important artifacts found during archeological digs, including fascinating grave goods buried with the dead, often European made.

The museum also contains an interesting collection of traditional baskets from local native tribes, as well as exhibits and displays portraying the site's significance. A replica of a period tribal home, plus plenty of hiking trails are also available to explore. The site is also a great place for a picnic.

Also, be sure to check out their website for details of the Natchez Powwow . This two-day event features American Indian dancers, arts, and crafts.

Address: 400 Jeff Davis Blvd, Natchez, Mississippi

Official site: www.mdah.ms.gov/explore-mississippi/grand-village-natchez-indians

We recommend these great hotels in Natchez, each located near top attractions such as the city's historic antebellum homes:

Luxury Hotels :

• After visiting the beautiful antebellum homes in Natchez, why not opt for a luxury stay in one, such as Monmouth Historic Inn & Gardens ? This gorgeous 19th-century mansion offers authentic southern-style luxury, period furnishings, elegant canopy beds, and beautiful gardens to explore.
• Another good choice is Dunleith Historic Inn , a beautiful mansion built in 1856 and set amid a 40-acre park-like property and boasting four-poster beds, marble bathrooms, and free breakfasts.
• A high-end stay can also be enjoyed at Devereaux Shields House , an intimate B&B-style inn offering comfortable rooms in a beautiful garden setting.

Mid-Range Hotels :

• The Hampton Inn & Suites Natchez is a great choice in the mid-range price category. Centrally located overlooking the Mississippi River, it's close to the downtown core and has an outdoor swimming pool (complimentary breakfast provided).
• Also offering exceptional value is Clermont Bluffs Bed and Breakfast , a delightful, intimate B&B offering authentic Southern hospitality, as well as Natchez Grand Hotel, popular for its river views and spacious rooms.

Budget Hotels :

• A favorite in the budget hotel category, Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Natchez South offers affordable rates, comfortable beds, complimentary breakfast with fresh-baked cinnamon rolls, and an inviting pool.
• Also within an easy drive of area attractions and worth checking out, Clarion Suites in Vidalia, a small town just across the Mississippi River, is also dependable and offers large suites with pullouts and river views.

More Related Articles on PlanetWare.com

Mississippi Moments : If you haven't had enough of that Deep South friendliness after a stay in Natchez, then head straight to Jackson, the state capital of Mississippi . Fun things for families to do here include touring the Capitol building and museum, visiting the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science, and, of course, the Mississippi Children's Museum.

And there's plenty of other things to do in the state of Mississippi , too, from exploring one of the most spectacular coastlines in the Gulf of Mexico, the Gulf Islands National Seashore, to getting up close to the diverse marine life found here at the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies.

Deep South : The exciting city of New Orleans , Louisiana, offers visitors plenty of great attractions (the National WWII Museum is a must), as well as diverse neighborhoods such as the lively French Quarter, famous for its music, shops, and restaurants.

Other Southern US destinations to consider visiting include Memphis , famous the world over for its Graceland estate, the former home of the "King," Elvis Presley; and that other important center of musical innovation, Nashville (also in Tennessee), where you can wander Music Row, an area with multiple attractions dedicated to music, including the Country Music Hall of Fame and RCA Studio B, where many a famous recording was made.

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Tour Historic Homes of Natchez

Natchez is steeped in over 300 years of rich history. Nowhere is the city's history more evident than in its large array of antebellum homes. Prior to the Civil War, Natchez had more million­aires than any other city in the country. Building mansions became a competition producing stunning homes, many of which have been restored to their original state. Tour these magnifi­cent homes and hear the rich and unique stories each has to tell.

Monmouth Historic Inn & Gardens

Choctaw Hall

Dr. John Bowman Banks Home

Elm's Court

House on Ellicott's Hill

Linden Antebellum Home

Magnolia Hall

Myrtle Terrace

Oak Hill Inn

Rosalie Mansion

Stanton Hall

Towers Mansion

(601) 304-1040

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73 Natchez Trace Parkway

Natchez, MS 39120

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Named one of the "Finest Antebellum Houses in the Deep South"

Take a step back in time and experience firsthand, life in the 1800's, historic wedding & special occasion venue.

Welcome to Brandon Hall Plantation.  We are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  Come visit us in Natchez, Mississippi and experience Southern hospitality at its finest.  Brandon Hall Plantation features two well appointed cottages as well as several rooms in the big house for weddings and large groups .

Brandon Hall Plantation is a secluded historic estate set on over 45 acres of rolling hills. The two level lush garden and white gazebo provide for a romantic setting for the perfect event. The interior of the mansion is picture perfect with antiques, artifacts, and decor dating back over 160 years. The grand foyer and unique architecture provides an unparalleled setting for a fairytale experience.

Louise Suite

Sleeps 2: 1 Queen bed.  Ensuite private bath featuring a combined bathtub and shower.  Internet, flat screen TV with satellite. 14 foot ceilings.  ~385 square feet.  Located inside the Mansion on the first floor.  No shared bathroom.

$225 per night

Rachel Leigh

Sleeps 3: 1 Queen bed, 1 Twin bed.  Ensuite private bath featuring combined bathtub and shower.  Internet, flat screen TV with satellite, rate includes two guests. 12 foot ceilings.  ~620 square feet.  Located inside the Mansion on the second floor.  No shared bathroom.

$295 per night

Andrea Lauren

Sleeps 2: 1 Queen bed.  Ensuite private bath featuring combined bathtub and shower, Internet, flat screen TV with satellite. 12 foot ceilings.  ~410 square feet.  Located inside the Mansion on the second floor.  No shared bathroom.

$265 per night

Rebecca Delain

Sleeps 3: 1 Queen bed, 1 Twin bed. Two private, ensuite baths:  one features a combined bathtub and shower; the other features a walk-in shower.  Internet, flat screen TV with satellite, rate includes two guests. 12 foot ceilings.  ~750 square feet.  Located inside the Mansion on the second floor.  No shared bathroom.

$340 per night

Sarah Elise

Sleeps 2: 1 Queen bed.  Ensuite private bath featuring a walk-in shower.  Internet, flat screen TV with satellite. 12 foot ceilings.  ~350 square feet.  Located inside the Mansion on the second floor.  No shared bathroom.

Whitehall Cottage

Sleeps 6: 1 King bed, 1 Queen bed, 2 Twin Beds, Full kitchen, Living area, Full bath, Washer/Dryer, Porch. Internet, flat screen TV with satellite, rate includes two guests.  10 foot ceilings.  ~1,000 square feet.  Stand alone building with no shared bathroom.

$250 per night

Carpenter Cottage

Sleeps 2: 1 King bed, Full kitchen, Living area, Full bath, Washer/Dryer, Porch. Internet, flat screen TV with satellite.  10 foot ceilings.  ~1,000 square feet.  Stand alone building with no shared bathroom.

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All towns have a story. But you’ve never heard one quite like Natchez. 

It’s a tale of rich cultural legacy and powerful reckonings, where our iconic historic homes set the stage for diverse and fascinating local characters. And while we’re rooted in history, our present is just as lively. Natchez is the home of modern southern hospitality. Here you’ll find a diverse, vibrant town with doors open wide and a little something for everyone. Y’all are welcome here.

GETTING HERE

Arts & Entertainment

Outdoor Recreation

Cultural Heritage

Historic Homes

Trails & Trace

Cultural Legacy

Meet the people and cultures who have called Natchez home. From the Natchez indigenous people and European immigrants to the enslaved peoples from Africa’s Bambara tribe, our town’s history is filled with diverse voices that echo across centuries and into the present day.

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History buffs, natchez cultural heritage experience, natchez itinerary, natchez on a nickel.

Keep an eye on our calendar to add an authentic Natchez experience to your travels.

Diary Chronicles and Ghost Tales Dinner

Natchez Farmer’s Market

Natchez little theatre presents: orion and the goatman, free visitors guide, natchez newsletter, #visit natchez.

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Resistance by Enslaved People in Natchez, Mississippi (1719-1861)

Theme and time period.

From the time of their first arrival in Natchez, enslaved people resisted bondage. Slavery existed in Natchez beginning in 1719 and continued through French, British, Spanish, and finally American rule. Then, in 1863 in the midst of the Civil War, U. S. President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, and in 1865 the Thirteenth Amendment abolished slavery.

Enslaved people often rebelled against the cruelty of their masters, cruelties such as branding, cutting off ears, whipping, and torture. The urge for freedom and the desire to escape inhumane treatment were motivating factors for rebellion against slaveholders. Signs of this resistance caused slave owners to fear insurrection, especially when the enslaved population outnumbered White people. The rumor of a slave uprising was just as alarming to planters as an actual rebellion. Real and rumored rebellions always caused apprehension among slaveholders in Natchez.

Natchez Indian revolt

One of the earliest recorded incidents of an uprising in the area was the Natchez Indian Revolt of 1729 against the French colonists. The French brought the first African slaves to Natchez to cultivate tobacco. Understandably, these Africans were resistant to forced migration and forced labor. Their aggression initially took the form of resistance on slave ships, as illustrated in the 1997 film Amistad . Their arrival in Natchez did not quell this desire for freedom. If anything, it sparked resistance. The Natchez Indians fanned this spark.

The French soon recognized the inevitable contact and interaction between the enslaved and the Natchez Indians and eventually extended their cruelty to the Native Americans. The Natchez Indians became aware that the French began to whip their young boys just as they did their enslaved Africans. This cruelty, along with pro-British leanings of some tribal leaders and the recent land grab by the French commander at Fort Rosalie, moved the proud Natchez nobles to act.

To protest the cruelty of the French, Natchez Indians recruited several enslaved individuals, promising them freedom, and staged a revolt against the French in 1729, wherein approximately 230 people were killed. The French retaliated, using their allies from other tribes to punish the Natchez. The Natchez Indians ultimately lost the war. Many were sold into slavery in the Caribbean while others joined other tribes.

The flames of violence were fanned again in 1731. A number of enslaved Africans who had participated in the Natchez Indian Revolt were involved in a conspiracy to kill all the French and take over the colony. The governor of Louisiana heard rumors of the uprising but dismissed them, even after an enslaved woman supposedly hinted of the rebellion to a French soldier. A Swiss citizen who had lived in Natchez, Antoine Le Page du Pratz, investigated the incident and would later describe it in his history of Louisiana. He learned that his trusted first officer and interpreter, an enslaved man named Samba Bambara, was the mastermind. Samba had been involved in a rebellion back in his homeland and was sentenced to a life in bondage for his resistance. He had also tried to instigate a revolt on the slave ship on which he traveled from Africa. As punishment for his role in the would-be mutiny, Samba was placed in irons. Because of Le Page du Pratz’s efforts, French authorities tortured and killed the conspirators, even breaking the enslaved woman on the wheel.

For a time, those enslaved in Natchez were quiet. The French ruled the Natchez area until 1763, when the area was surrendered to the British and became part of British West Florida.

American Revolution

The relative calm in Natchez ended with the American Revolution. Enslaved people knew that here was an opportunity to seize their freedom. The best example of resistance in Natchez during the American Revolution (1776-1783) occurred in July 1776. According to the diary of plantation owner William Dunbar, an enslaved individual had approached his master with the stunning revelation that Natchez slaves were plotting a rebellion and that the uprising had been planned at Dunbar’s plantation. To prevent this insurrection from happening, Dunbar and his fellow slave owners rounded up enslaved people, questioned and tortured them, forcing them to confess. An enslaved man who worked for Dunbar was in a boat when he was questioned and instead of confessing as others had done, jumped overboard and drowned himself in the river. Other would-be rebels were put on trial, found guilty of conspiracy, and executed.

During the American Revolution, the British surrendered the Natchez District to Spain.

Enslaved individuals “steal” themselves

After the Revolution, the most common form of resistance by the enslaved was running away. Runaways saw their action as liberation from slavery; the slave owner saw it as stealing. Owners considered enslaved people property and when an enslaved man ran away, he “stole” himself. Enslaved people ran away for a number of reasons. Although many fled to find freedom in the northern parts of the country, most runaways escaped to be with family members at nearby plantations. Flight was dangerous, and male were more likely to flee than females. Runaways encountered slave patrols, slave catchers, dogs, wild animals, and unfamiliar surroundings. Desperation, starvation, and fear led many runaways to return to their masters.

The enslaved favored weekends and holidays, particularly Christmas, to take flight. They tended to run away when corn rows were high in the fields to hide their escape. They used some inventive methods to liberate themselves. Some mailed themselves to relatives in the North. Others were stowaways on riverboats. Many forged passes that gave permission to travel, and a number of enslaved people, sired by White slave owners, passed themselves for White.

Work slowdown

There is evidence that those enslaved in Natchez also engaged in work slowdowns or other labor tactics to resist their bondage. They either pretended to be ill, slowed down their pace, or simply stopped working. Work slowdown sometimes involved acts of sabotage, as was the case on Monmouth Plantation in Natchez, owned by a former governor of Mississippi and Mexican War hero John A. Quitman. An enslaved man named Samuel broke a new plow, according to the journal of overseer Robert Love. One enslaved man injured several members of the Quitman family by his sabotage. On the way to a wedding in 1856, he deliberately drove a carriage down an embankment and injured the passengers.

Natchez burning

Natchez became part of the United States in 1817 when Mississippi entered the Union as a state. Despite American rule, slave owners still feared the possibility of slave uprisings. Troubles were sometimes blamed on the enslaved even when their involvement was suspect at best.

A series of fires rocked Natchez in 1836, at a time when Mississippi was cracking down on gambling. John A. Murrell, a White man who was a land pirate and kidnapper of slaves, was said to have proposed a slave rebellion the previous summer. On July 4, 1835, Whites, thought to be agents of abolition, and the enslaved, intent on obtaining their freedom, had planned a revolt. There was to be a general uprising of slaves and some Whites as far away as Maryland. The insurrectionists hoped to capture towns from Natchez to New Orleans, to kill as many White people as they could, and to burn and pillage plantations.

Slaveholders, however, uncovered the plot when an enslaved individual confessed to his master. No revolt occurred, however, but owners all over the state were apprehensive. Research today suggests that this entire would-be revolt was exaggerated or even false. Murrell was in jail at the time and was in no position to incite rebellion. Nonetheless, the people of Natchez, who feared even the rumor of an uprising, were on alert.

The bulk of Murrell’s supporters were said to be gamblers, which brought them in direct conflict with the citizens of Natchez who were intent on cracking down on gambling. When fires broke out in January 1836, Natchez residents attributed the arsons to Murrell’s gang of gamblers and the rumored rebellion the previous summer. The fires both outraged and horrified the residents, especially since more than thirty houses in Natchez caught fire. Natchez resident Eliza Breeden wrote her mother in 1836 that Whites were still edgy from the insurrection scare. Damage was so severe that, at one point, Breeden described the whole town as “in danger of being burnt.”

The people were divided over who they thought had started the fires. Some Natchez citizens believed that gamblers were the arsonists. Some citizens pointed instead to Natchez enslaved community. Authorities increased area slave patrols and instituted a sundown curfew for slaves. Some enslaved people were arrested, but were later acquitted and discharged.

The identity of the real arsonists remained a mystery. The community’s reaction to the Natchez fires in 1836, however, showed that even if the enslaved individuals were not involved, they were readily put under suspicion when any trouble or disturbance occurred.

Enslaved people strike back

Enslaved people understandably did sometimes act violently against their owners, assaulting and even killing masters and overseers. Murdering a master was the ultimate act of individual rebellion. In 1832, planter and slaveholder Joel Cameron of Warren County, sixty miles upriver from Natchez, suddenly disappeared. Search parties formed, and they discovered Cameron’s bruised and beaten body a few miles from Vicksburg. Evidence suggested Cameron was murdered. The main suspects in the slaying were his slaves and a free Black man. A jury found four enslaved people who worked for Cameron guilty and sentenced them to death. Three of the accused were hanged. The free Black man was also put to death.

The most famous case in which Natchez enslaved people murdered their overseer occurred in 1857. Duncan Skinner, a cruel White overseer of Clarissa Sharpe’s Cedar Grove Plantation southeast of Natchez, was found dead in the woods. Some thought Skinner had fallen from his horse, but Skinner’s brother, Jesse, did not believe that was possible and asked for an inquiry. A group of planters investigated Skinner’s death. The planters tortured some enslaved people at Cedar Groves and forced them not only to confess to the murder, but to also falsely implicate a White carpenter, John McCallin, as instigator of the killing. Local planters resented McCallin’s designs on the widow and used the implications of murder to run him out of town. McCallin claimed he was innocent; that he had nothing to do with the murder. Even though a jury consisting of these same planters found McCallin guilty of lying and complicity, he was not sentenced. There was no evidence; there was only the forced confession of the enslaved, who could not testify against a White man in court. The planters instead issued a public warning against him. McCallin was innocent, and the planters knew it.

The planters knew what had really happened: they knew that some enslaved people at Cedar Groves had killed Skinner because he was a cruel overseer. After less than five minutes of deliberations, a jury found three Cedar Groves enslaved men guilty of Skinner’s murder. They were publicly changed in December 1857.

The Civil War

The American Civil War period also saw many uprisings by enslaved people. The timing was no coincidence. The enslaved were aware of events outside of Natchez. Underground channels spread news from plantation to plantation, and the news spread rapidly. Information was spread through other means as well. Slaveholders discussed politics in front of the house slaves, who spread the word to the enslaved quarters.

Slaveholders uncovered a supposed conspiracy among the enslaved to rebel in the Second Creek area south of Natchez shortly after the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861. Diary entries and letters by Natchez Whites reveal that some enslaved individuals planned to murder all the White males in Natchez and spare the White women, whom the enslaved men would marry. After the insurrection, the enslaved people would march to meet President Lincoln. Unfortunately, a committee of slaveholders questioned some enslaved people and hanged as many as forty rebels.

Natchez newspapers remained silent about the supposed conspiracy and printed nothing. Editors feared that news of a planned insurrection in Mississippi would undermine the Confederate war effort and bolster Union morale. If not for private correspondence between White people, there would have been no records of  revolting by those enslaved. The silence of Natchez newspapers suggests that news of other conspiracies were also suppressed.

Spirit of resistance

Despite the horrors of slavery, the spirit of resistance among enslaved people never wavered. Their acts of resistance gave birth to the blues when they sang about their thirst for freedom, and paved the way for the modern Civil Rights Movement in mid-twentieth century.

The slaves, under French, British, Spanish, and then American rule, always pursued their liberation.

Jaime Boler received her doctorate in history from the University of Southern Mississippi in December 2005.

Aptheker, Herbert. American Negro Slave Revolts . New York: Kraus Reprint, 1974.

Blassingame, John W. The Slave Community: Plantation Life in the Antebellum South. New York: Oxford University Press, 1972.

Eliza Breeden to Louisa Millard, January 13, 1836, in Miles Taylor Family Papers, Louisiana and Lower Mississippi Valley Collections, Hill Memorial Library, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Genovese, Eugene D. Roll, Jordan, Roll: The World the Slaves Made . New York: Vintage, 1972.

Hall, Gwendolyn Midlo. Africans in Colonial Louisiana: The Development of Afro-Creole Culture in the Eighteenth Century . Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1992.

Jordan, Winthrop D. Tumult and Silence at Second Creek: An Inquiry into a Civil War Slave Conspiracy . Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1995.

Le Page du Pratz, Antoine. The History of Louisiana, or of the Western Parts of Virginia & Carolina: Containing a Description of the Countries That Lie on Both Sides of the River Mississippi: With an Account of the Settlements, Inhabitants, Soil, Climate, and Products. Baton Rouge: Claitors Publishing Division, 1972.

May, Robert E. “John Quitman and His Slaves: Reconciling Slave Resistance with the Proslavery Defense.” Journal of Southern History 46 (November 1980): 551-570.

Miles, Edwin A. “The Mississippi Slave Insurrection Scare of 1835.” Journal of Negro History 42 (January 1957): 48-60.

Rowland, Dunbar Mrs., ed. Life, Letters and Papers of William Dunbar of Elgin, Morayshire, Scotland, and Natchez, Mississippi. Jackson: Press of the Mississippi Historical Society, 1930.

Usner, Daniel H., Jr. American Indians in the Lower Mississippi Valley: Social and Economic Histories. Lincoln : University of Nebraska Press, 1998.

Wayne, Michael. “An Old South Morality Play: Reconsidering the Social Underpinnings of the Proslavery Ideology.” Journal of American History 77 (December 1990): 838-863.

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‘Erasing Slavery’ will be topic of upcoming Natchez Historical Society meeting

Published 11:56 am Tuesday, May 14, 2024

By Roscoe Barnes III

Dr. Ariela Gross, distinguished professor of Law at the UCLA School of Law, will talk about slavery and its impact on the rule of law at the Tuesday, May 28 meeting of the Natchez Historical Society.

The meeting is free to the public and will be held at the Historic Natchez Foundation, 108 S. Commerce St., in Natchez.

It will begin with a social at 5:30 p.m. and Gross’ presentation at 6 p.m. Gross’ lecture is titled, “Erasing Slavery – How Stories of Slavery and Freedom (in Natchez) Shape Battles Over the Constitution.”

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Gross said she has spent a significant amount of time doing research in Natchez.

“Just as monuments and plantation tours have presented a version of history that erased the experience of slavery and Black agency in ending slavery and as many legislatures are trying to erase slavery and racism from the teaching of US history, the Supreme Court has tried to erase slavery from the memory of the Constitution,” she said.

“By putting slavery in the deep past and portraying freedom as a gift from white people to Black people, they deny the continuing legacies of slavery and the responsibility to redress them,” she noted. “I’m trying to make the connections between the way we are telling these histories in local culture and politics in places like Natchez, and how history is shaping our constitutional law.” Alan Wolf, who serves as a director of the society and its program chair, said that Gross is one of the nation’s most accomplished and respected scholars of legal history.

“Dr. Gross will describe how disputed narratives we tell about slavery and emancipation, for example through monuments, memorials, films, novels, and tourist sites, shape the environment in which Constitutional law is determined,” Wolf said.

As a professor, Gross teaches Contract Law, Constitutional Law, Enslavement and Racialization in U.S. Legal History and other courses on race and legal history.

She is “a legal historian whose scholarship focuses on the ways race, racism, and slavery have shaped law, politics, and culture in the Americas,” according to her online bio.

Gross is a graduate of Harvard College and Stanford Law School. She earned her Doctor of Philosophy at Stanford University.

She has served as a visiting professor at Stanford Law School, Tel Aviv University, and Kyoto University, among others.

In addition to being a well-respected professor, Gross is a prolific writer. The list of books that she has authored includes “Becoming Free, Becoming Black: Race, Freedom, and Law in Cuba, Virginia, and Louisiana” with Alejandro de la Fuente” (Cambridge University Press, 2020); “What Blood Won’t Tell: A History of Race on Trial in America” (Harvard University Press, 2008); and “Double Character: Slavery and Mastery in the Antebellum Southern Courtroom (Princeton University Press, 2000).

  This program is funded in part by a grant from the Mississippi Humanities Council, through funding by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

  For more information, visit  natchezhistoricalsociety .org  or call 601-492-3004. Emails may be sent to  info@natchezhistoricalsociety. org

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YEAR-ROUND: LANSDOWNE MANSION CIRCA 1853

Quick Details

• Info IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This tour is By Appointment Only. Please call 601-653-0919 for availability.
• Tags Category: Year-Round
• Hour Glass Duration: 45 minutes
• Users Ages: All ages welcome
• Tag This home tours by appointment only: Please call (601) 653-0919 to schedule a tour
• Map Marker Location: 17 Marshall Road, Natchez, MS 39120
• Lansdowne Mansion’s Year-Round tours are by appointment only. Call (601) 653-0919 for available tour dates and times.
• For Bed & Breakfast availabilities, please call (601) 807-5007.

LANSDOWNE’S  YEAR-ROUND TOURS

Step back in time with a visit to the historic Lansdowne house, built on land owned by the same family since the 1780s.

• Lansdowne was built as a wedding present for George Marshall and his bride, Charlotte
• Many original furnishings still remain in the mansion
• The parlor still has the original Zuber wallpaper
• Lansdowne sits on 120 acres only 1 mile from Natchez
• Bed & Breakfast guests have a beautiful view of the mansion’s grounds with Oak and Magnolia trees, roses, and azaleas
• Bed & Breakfast guests will be welcomed into the main house by the current owner and descendant of the original butlers for wine, seasonal beverages, and a tour of the mansion
• Visit lansdowneplantation.com for information on rooms and rates

PHOTOS: Northern Lights over South Mississippi

BILOXI, Miss. (WLOX) - A rare, once in a lifetime event took place across South Mississippi skies Friday night.

The northern lights were visible all the way down to the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

It is all due to an intense geomagnetic storm, rated a rare G5 by the Space Weather Prediction Center.

The strongest on a scale from 1-5.

Visible again? Maybe

The Space Weather Prediction Center says at least five solar flares have been directed towards Earth, and it is possible the northern lights could be visible again Saturday night – but there is uncertainty on how far south that could be.

It also depends on timing of the geomagnetic storm, how strong it is, and if clouds will permit.

It is hard to pinpoint an exact time to try to spot the northern lights. They typically come in waves.

Trying to see them

Get out of city lights. Look north along the horizon when it gets dark.

Geomagnetic storms also could disrupt satellite and communication services.

Photos from around South Mississippi

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