Winter Natchizeans

We have learned that folks who live here are officially called Natchizeans (we weren't sure).  Over the past four days we have started to explore the area and here are some of the things we've seen:

Longwood

Longwood is the largest octagonal house in America.  Building began in 1861 and stopped when the Civil War began.  The house has 30,00 feet of interior, but only the basement was completed.  The family lived in the basement (10,000 sq. feet) for 30 years.

Part of the incomplete 1st floor.

 Stanton Hall

Stanton Hall, built in 1857, was fully completed and is beautifully furnished in period pieces on the inside. 

Rosalie

Rosalie was built in 1820 and during the Civil War it served as the headquarters for the Union Army.  It also contains beautiful period furniture and art.

There are at least 10 very large, restored, antebellum mansions in Natchez.  The folks who built these made their money from cotton and owned plantations - mostly in Louisiana.  They would come and live in Natchez during the winter months.  We learned that there was really no fighting in Natchez during the Civil War.  When the Union Army won the battle of New Orleans, Natchez came under Union Army control.  This is why so many of the antebellum homes and buildings survived.

Natchez has lots of other antebellum homes that aren't quite as grand scattered throughout the city.  Many people have done a great job of restoring them as well.

As with any city, Natchez has some very old and quirky properties....

Enough is ?????

For my sister, Rose :)

We had to try the local cuisine at the Pig Out Inn....

Cute, but not all we hoped it would be*

Quiz Section:
We went to the William Johnson House in town.  He was a prosperous businessman who kept extensive diaries of the people he came to know in Natchez during the 1820s - 1851.  His diaries have provided historians with great details about the families and culture of the city during that time period. His home is part of the Natchez National Historical Park.  We learned a new word there.  Do you know what manumit means? 

*editor's (Gene's) note - Peggy was talking about the restaurant's cuisine not the person pictured here (i think)