Historical Homes in Mississippi
Take a tour of Mississippi’s historical homes and immerse yourself in American history.
You'll find numerous antebellum homes in varying architectural styles in Natchez, including Longwood, the largest octagonal house in North America. You can also visit Beauvoir, the Biloxi home of Confederate president Jefferson Davis; Rowan Oak, the Oxford home of writer William Faulkner; and the Tupelo birthplace of Elvis Presley before his amazing home of Graceland.
Natchez
Natchez is noted among America's historic cities for its wealth of historically significant antebellum architecture. More than a dozen antebellum mansions are open for tours year round and the number growns much higher during the popular Spring and Fall Pilgrimages. Overnight guests are welcome at many of these homes, including the column-clad Dunleith Historic Inn with its wrap-around balconies. Be sure to also visit the never-completed antebellum home Longwood, which is North America's largest octagonal residence. An easy way to experience the city's attractions is on the Natchez City Sightseeing Double Decker Bus, which offers a hop-on, hop-off tour. Or for something a bit different why not enjoy the romance of Natchez at night and take a horse-drawn carriage tour around beautiful antebellum homes and historical downtown Natchez.
Biloxi
Explore Biloxi, rich in history. See Beauvoir, the stunning home of the only President of the Confederate States of America, Jefferson Davis, and the place where he penned his memoirs. The 51-acre estate, fronting the Gulf of Mexico, was also once the site of the Mississippi Confederate soldiers’ home, which cared for hundreds of Southern veterans and their wives. The beautifully restored Beauvoir house, dominates the sprawling complex that includes a gift shop, historic cemetery, the Tomb of the Unknown Confederate Soldier and the magnificent view of the Mississippi Sound. Beauvoir truly lives up to her name, French for ‘beautiful view’ or ‘beautiful to see’.
Oxford
Visit Rowan Oak, the 1844-built home of Nobel Prize-winning author William Faulkner, now a museum which offers a climpse into the legend's life and work. Another must-see is Oxford's historic downtown square, where the courthouse has sat surrounded by shops and restaurants for nearly 200 years. The still-thriving Neilson's Department Store has been in Oxford since 1839. The 1859-built Greek Revival home known as Cedar Oaks is open for tours, with guides sharing stories of its occupation by Union troops. One of the newest attractions - the Burns Belfry Museum and Multicultural Center shines a light on local African American history inside a 1910-built church building once owned by author John Grisham. Overnight accommodations historic options includie the 1800s-built Blue Creek Cabin.
Tupelo
The birthplace of Elvis Presley in Tupelo, Mississippi is the only location in the world where you can see, feel and touch where the King of Rock & Roll began his musical journey. Only in Tupelo can you walk into the room where he breathed his first breath, take a stroll to his favourite location as a boy to relax looking over Tupelo and experience his childhood gospel church service. See first hand how it all shaped this young boy from Mississippi into the international rock & roll music legend he is today, and before he set up home at Graceland.
