My trip in New Orleans, Natchez, Port Gibson, Vicksburg of May 22, 2021

The Jung Hotel and Residences in New Orleans is a historic hotel located in the Central Business District, just a few blocks away from the French Quarter. Originally opened in 1908 as an office building, the Jung was converted into a hotel in the 1920s and has since undergone several renovations and additions. Today, the hotel features 207 guest rooms and suites, as well as 113 residential units. The Jung is known for its Art Deco architecture, luxurious amenities, and convenient location for exploring the vibrant culture and cuisine of New Orleans.

Burden Museum & Gardens in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, is a 440-acre destination that allows visitors to explore Louisiana's cultural heritage and natural landscapes. The museum includes the LSU Rural Life Museum, an open-air collection of more than 30 historic buildings from the 19th century, and the LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens, which feature speciality gardens, woodlands, wetlands, and arboreta. Windrush Gardens, designed by Steele Burden, is a 25-acre landscaped space with winding paths, majestic live oaks, crape myrtles, azaleas, and camellias, providing visitors with a sense of peace and tranquillity.

The opening hours for Burden Museum & Gardens in Baton Rouge, Louisiana are:

Tuesday through Saturday: 8:00am to 4:30pm Sunday: 1:00pm to 4:30pm Closed on Mondays and major holidays Admission fees are:

LSU Rural Life Museum: $10 for adults, $9 for seniors (65+), $8 for students (ages 13-18 and with college ID), $6 for children (ages 6-12), and free for children 5 and under. LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens: $8 for adults, $7 for seniors (65+), $6 for students (ages 13-18 and with college ID), $4 for children (ages 6-12), and free for children 5 and under. Windrush Gardens: $4 for adults, $3 for seniors (65+), $2 for children (ages 6-12), and free for children 5 and under. There is also a combined admission fee for all three attractions:

$15 for adults, $13 for seniors (65+), $12 for students (ages 13-18 and with college ID), $8 for children (ages 6-12), and free for children 5 and under. Please note that admission fees are subject to change, and there may be additional fees for special events and programs.

These marble columns were part of the entrance to the Hill Memorial Library, donated to LSU by John Hill Sr. in 1902 as a memorial to his son John Hill Jr. The columns served as an iconic landmark for thousands of students and faculty until the library was demolished in 1956 to make room for a new State Library building.

Baton Rouge is the capital city of the U.S. state of Louisiana, located on the eastern bank of the Mississippi River. The town was founded by French explorers in 1719 and became the capital of Louisiana in 1849. Baton Rouge has a rich history and has been a significant centre of politics, culture, and education in Louisiana.

The name "Baton Rouge" means "red stick" in French, and it comes from a red pole that the Native American tribes who lived in the area used to mark the boundary between their hunting grounds. When the French arrived, they called the area "le Baton Rouge" and named the nearby river "le Fleuve Rouge," which means "red river." The name "Baton Rouge" has been used to refer to the city and the surrounding region ever since.

However, another version of the story suggests that the name came from a red pole stained with blood to mark the boundary between two Native American tribes engaged in a fierce battle. The heads of the defeated were then displayed on the red pole, giving it the name "le bâton rouge."

Over the centuries, Baton Rouge has been shaped by various cultures and influences, including Native American, French, Spanish, African, and American. Today, the city is home to a diverse population known for its historic architecture, vibrant music scene, and delicious food.

In rural Louisiana communities during the 19th and early 20th centuries, people made various goods from textiles, including garments, bedding, accessories, and household textiles. They used their ingenuity, creativity, dedication, and skill to create these items from available resources. A c.1820 day dress, worn by Ann Ellis Butler in West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana, is a fine example of the fashion trends of the time. The dress features cotton cording inserted after the fabric was gathered and seamed, and bust panels cut on the bias for more ease and natural stretch. The back of the dress is more densely gathered, and there is no waistband, but the waist seam is reinforced with plain woven cotton or linen tape. The dress fastens at the back with a hook and eye closure, although it could have closed initially with a hook and loop, ties, button and loop or buttonhole. The back skirt opening is finished in the then-common manner of cutting a slit and sewing a hem tapering to the point of the slit, which was left unhemmed and reinforced with a few stitches. The hem was taken up to shorten the dress on the sides, perhaps compensating for the front being cut as one straight panel. Interestingly, the angle of stitching is reversed from the typical bend, which indicates that the dressmaker may have been left-handed.

With the advent of industrialisation, the textile industry shifted towards producing more pre-made goods, leading to the fading of valuable skills such as spinning, weaving, and sewing. Today's fashion industry is composed mainly of fast fashion, which has a limited lifespan. However, there is a growing desire to reference historical practices for textile production and creation. The passage suggests ways for consumers to minimise waste, such as purchasing natural textile brands, repairing or upcycling clothes, and donating no-longer-used clothes to charitable organisations.

In celebration of the resourcefulness and ingenuity of textile traditions that paved the way for the modern textile industry, the passage offers a take-home hands-on activity of making a reticule. This small draw-string bag was popular during the 19th century.

Slavery existed in Louisiana as a forced labour system from the 1710s until the early 1860s. The scarcity of labour in the colony's early days created a need for workers, and French colonial authorities relied on the institution of forced labour to fill this need. Enslaved persons of African descent provided the work for developing new farms and plantations, as well as the growing and harvesting of crops. Major crops included indigo, rice, and tobacco during the colonial period under France and Spain. By 1785 enslaved people comprised 50% of the colonial population, and after 1800, sugar and cotton became the major crops that relied on slave labour, with enslaved persons comprising 40-50% of Louisiana's population.

Enslavers sometimes forced enslaved workers to wear collars as punishment or if they were known to run away. A slave pen was a plantation jail used to imprison enslaved people and enforce plantation rules. Cells were commonly found near the overseer's home or enslaved person's quarters. They were used to incarcerate or punish enslaved people for committing offences such as disobedience, drunkenness, theft, or running away. Most large plantations enforced their private rules strictly and did not allow non-residents to visit without specific business at hand. Some masters even forbade non-slaves to talk with their slaves, feeling that such conversations had the potential to cause trouble.

Planters were the owners of a plantation, and they were a diverse group based on their wealth, gender, and racial identity. Plantations varied in size and wealth. The most extensive plantations were some of the wealthiest in Louisiana, while owners of smaller plantations were less financially secure. Free persons of Color and Creoles of Color also owned plantations and an enslaved workforce. The Metoyer Family, who owned a large plantation in Natchitoches Parish, was considered one of the wealthiest Creoles of colour families in the United States before they ran into financial debt in the 1830s.

Planters had a great responsibility in running the plantation. It was their obligation to manage the finances and make a profit. This was extremely difficult with the fluctuations in agricultural commodities markets. Wealthier planters often had their accountants to help maintain the financial ledgers. Farmers were also responsible for managing their workforce, including overseers, factories, and enslaved people. The institution of slavery allowed planters to keep labour costs low, generally. However, many growers also had to implement specific rules to maintain the social hierarchy and ensure enslaved people performed their work. After the Civil War, the sharecropper system replaced slavery. This was a new system of labour management based on extending credit and agricultural supplies to resident workers.

Solomon Northrup, an educated free-born carpenter and violinist from Saratoga Springs, New York, wrote the book Twelve Years an enslaved person with Assistance, a memoir about his life as an enslaved worker in central Louisiana from 1841-1853. He was kidnapped by slave traders and sold into slavery in Louisiana and worked as a carpenter and labourer on several plantations in Rapides and Avoyelles Parishes. His description of his time as an enslaved person provides a personal account of the hard work, cruelty, and degradation of slavery in Louisiana. Northrup eventually gained his freedom with the help of friends and family, spending the remainder of his life lecturing and promoting abolition. For years, historians considered his memoir to be fiction, but in the 1960s, Rapides Parish historians Sue Eakin and Joseph Logsdon proved that Northrup's account was valid. As a result, Northrup's book provides an accurate account of slave life in Louisiana.

The industrialisation exhibit at the museum showcases the significant economic changes that occurred along the inland rivers of the United States. The arrival of the steamboat "New Orleans" in 1811-1812 signalled the beginning of a new era of commercial steamboat navigation on the western and midwestern continental rivers, converting river commerce from a one-way trip downstream to two-way traffic. The "New Orleans" achieved a downstream speed of eight to ten miles per hour and an upstream speed of three miles per hour, becoming the first of thousands of steamboats that opened the Mississippi River and Ohio River valleys to commercial trade.

The exhibit also features the development of levees, which are earthen structures along waterways designed to prevent flood and tide waters from inundating farmland, rural settlements, and urban residential areas. Artificial levees began in the colonial period along most bayous and rivers. After major floods in 1912 and 1913 and the great Mississippi River flood of 1927, the federal government prioritised levee construction to protect life and property. This ambitious program of building modern levees changed the lives of rural people in Louisiana by removing the threat of flooding and opening up new lands for cultivation.

Another essential exhibit feature is the Model T pickup truck made by Ford Motor Company between 1908 and 1927. The assembly line production method invented by Henry Ford made automobile and truck manufacturing more efficient and cost-effective, making the Model T the first affordable automobile for consumers. This allowed many rural residents to purchase trucks for hauling goods and farm supplies and for general transportation.

Additionally, the exhibit showcases the luxurious lifestyle of steamboat travel on the eighth Natchez, which ran the Mississippi River from 1879 to 1889. It features a silver spoon that was used on the steamboat, which had luxurious staterooms and elaborate decorations. Overall, the industrialisation exhibit highlights the significant technological advancements and economic changes that occurred in the United States, transforming the way people travelled and traded goods on the inland rivers.

Funeral traditions have evolved, and many of the practices that we have today have their roots in the past. A critical aspect of the funeral industry is the coffin or casket used to bury the deceased. Coffins and caskets have been around for centuries, with coffins traditionally being a six-sided burial container with a removable lid and a casket being a rectangular four-sided container with a hinged lid. The term "coffin" originates from the French word "coffin," meaning basket.

Before the Civil War, coffins were not mass-produced, and the deceased were often buried in shrouds or simple wooden boxes. The high death toll of the Civil War led to the need for quick production of coffins, and many furniture makers, such as Charles Ferdinand, began making more coffins than cabinets during this time. The invention of cast iron coffins by the Fisk family allowed for more accessible transportation of bodies over long distances, as wooden coffins and the lack of embalming made it challenging to transport bodies home.

One exciting innovation in coffin design is the Fisk Mummy Coffin, patented by Almond Fisk in 1848. This coffin was designed to immortalise and preserve a corpse in a cast-iron, human-shaped coffin, so airborne diseases would not be spread to the surrounding cities. A common feature of Fisk coffins is the facial window where the mourners could gaze upon their loved ones. However, the shape and the window were most unsettling, and the production of these coffins ended sometime between 1853 and 1860.

Another important aspect of funeral traditions is the hearse, a vehicle transporting the deceased to the burial site. A hearse used at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Convent, Louisiana, circa 1850, is an example of a traditional hearse. The use of a hearse in funeral processions dates back to ancient Rome, where the body was carried on a bier or a litter. Today, hearses are typically used to transport the coffin or casket to the burial site, and they are often decorated with flowers or other funeral arrangements.

In conclusion, funeral traditions have undergone significant changes over the years, and innovations in coffin design and transportation have played an essential role. The Fisk Mummy Coffin and the use of cast iron for coffins allowed for more accessible transit of bodies over long distances. Using a hearse to transport the deceased to the burial site has become a standard practice in modern funeral processions.

The museum exhibits two pieces of furniture that offer a glimpse into the daily life of people in the past. The first is a gin table used by Frank Massony, a cotton buyer and gin owner, in the mid-19th century. During that time, cotton was transported from the field to the gin by trailers, and the roads leading to the gins would be covered in cotton during good years. The person in the gin office used the gin table to tag the trailers of cotton brought in by the farmers. They would stand or sit on a stool and watch the campers as they moved beneath a suction chute that lifted the cotton from the trailer and channelled it into the gin.

The second piece of furniture is an examination table used in Dr McVea's office in the New Reymond Building on Third Street in Baton Rouge. This unique piece of medical furniture can be used as an exam table and opened for female examination. The table provides insight into past medical practices, showing how doctors conducted tests and how medical equipment has evolved.

The bronze bell from the la Petite Versailles plantation, located in St. James Parish, is a historical artefact with important information about its origin and age. It is marked "VANDUZEN & TIFT CINCINNATI // BUCKEYE BELL FOUNDRY 1877." This indicates that the bell was produced by the Buckeye Bell Foundry in Cincinnati in 1877, making it over 140 years old.

Buckeye Bell Foundry was one of the most significant bell foundries in the United States during the 19th century, and it produced a vast number of bells for a variety of purposes, including schools, churches, and plantations. The foundry was established in 1837 and was active until 1894 when it closed.

La Petite Versailles plantation was a significant sugar cane plantation in St. James Parish during the antebellum period. The plantation was established in 1790 and produced sugar actively until the late 1800s. The bronze bell was most likely used to signal the beginning and end of workdays, meals, and other important events at the plantation.

In addition to its historical significance, the bronze bell has artistic value. Bronze is a durable and malleable metal used centuries to create decorative objects, including bells. The bronze bell from the la Petite Versailles plantation features intricate patterns and designs, making it a beautiful example of bronze bell craftsmanship from the 19th century.

The Farquhar Steam Engine Boiler, circa 1915, is an example of the well-built steam traction engines produced by the A.B. Farquhar Company. The steam engine boiler was an essential component of the steam traction engine, which was used as a portable power plant that could run various equipment such as sawmills and threshers.

The boiler produced the steam that powered the engine, and it had to withstand high pressures and temperatures. The Farquhar Steam Engine Boiler was manufactured in York, Pennsylvania, where the A.B. Farquhar Company was established in 1856.

The company was initially named the Pennsylvania Agricultural Works and produced farm equipment such as cotton, corn, and grain planters. The company's wares were sold internationally, as far away as South America, Africa, Germany, Russia, China, Japan, and India. However, Farquhar became particularly well-known for its steam traction engines.

These engines were used extensively in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as a portable power source, and they helped to revolutionise the agricultural industry. Oxen, horses, or mules typically pulled the steam traction engines to where they were needed. Once there, they could power various equipment, such as threshers, sawmills, and other machinery.

It was common for more extensive plantations to have their own post office to serve the needs of the plantation community. This allowed mail to be delivered and sent out without requiring individuals to travel long distances to access a post office in a nearby town. The post office on a plantation could also serve as a general store or trading post, providing various goods and supplies for the community. Sometimes, the plantation post office could also be a meeting place for social events or community gatherings.

The Commissary is a historic building that was constructed in 1850 as an extension of an older building at Welham Plantation, which was used as a port for shipping and receiving supplies along the Mississippi River. This building is an example of Classical Revival architecture with briquette-entre-poteaux additions. Initially, the Commissary was used as a storehouse for the plantation, but around 1900, it became a general store and post office that served not only the plantation population but also the surrounding community. In 1972, the building was moved to the Rural Life Museum, where it is now exhibited. The Commissary provides a glimpse into the past, showcasing the importance of general stores and post offices in rural communities and their role in facilitating trade and commerce.

The Schoolhouse, built initially as a slave cabin, was later repurposed as the kitchen for the overseer's house. It was used as a schoolhouse from the late 1800s until the 1930s. At that time, some plantation owners would send their children to private or parochial academies for education, while others hired tutors to teach their children. These tutors would often lead the children of the plantation overseer and neighbouring yeoman farmers for a fee. The Schoolhouse was moved to the Rural Life Museum from Welham Plantation in 1971.

The Overseer's House was a significant building in the history of the Welham Plantation. It was constructed around 1835 and continuously occupied until the mid-1960s. The walls of the original construction were made of bousillage, a mixture of mud and moss. Later on, it was changed to plaster over wooden laths. When the building was relocated to the Rural Life Museum, the front wall was altered to briquette-entre-poteaux, which refers to brick between posts. The house was donated to the museum by L. Keller and Company. The son of Robert Keller, Jr. also visited the place where he was born. However, the Welham Plantation was eventually sold as an industrial site to Marathon Oil in 1975, and the "Big House" was demolished in May 1979.

The Sick House at the Rural Life Museum is a former slave cabin from Welham Plantation that was converted into a hospital to tend to the sick slaves. The cabin, originally constructed around 1840, was used as a residence until the early 1960s before it was moved to the museum. The sick house typically consisted of at least two rooms, one for examination and another for confinement or "lying in." Plantation owners would arrange for a doctor to tend to the sick on a regular basis as well as in emergencies. The sick house at the museum is now furnished to depict a typical Louisiana plantation hospital, and it serves as a reminder of the harsh realities of slavery and the lack of adequate medical care for enslaved people.

The Double-pen slave cabin is a two-room house that is believed to be the oldest of the slave cabins on Welham Plantation. It was constructed around 1830 and had an unusual construction with "one-by-twelve" inch boards across the front and bevelled edge siding on the front wall. The framing is of mortise-and-tenon construction, and it has a central chimney shared by back-to-back fireplaces. This type of architectural styling is commonly referred to as "saddlebag".

Most enslaved people lived in sparsely furnished cabins with crude furniture and bedding made of straw, corn shucks, or moss laid on the floor and covered with a blanket or quilt. The chairs typically had seats made of animal hide, woven rush, or corn shucks. At the same time, handmade tools and cooking utensils were occasionally fashioned with items handed down by the overseer or plantation owner. Lighting devices were usually crude iron vessels designed to hold burning rush or grease.

The Double-pen slave cabin is now a part of the Rural Life Museum. It is furnished to depict the typical living conditions of enslaved people on Louisiana plantations during the 19th century.

Blacksmiths were skilled craftsmen who played an essential role in plantation life. They were responsible for making and repairing tools, equipment, and machinery necessary for the daily operation of the plantation. The blacksmith shop was often a central hub for the plantation, where enslaved people and plantation workers could come to have their tools repaired or to commission new ones. The blacksmith's work was crucial in maintaining the productivity of the plantation and the livelihood of the enslaved people who worked there. The shop was typically equipped with a forge, anvil, hammers, tongs, and other tools for shaping and manipulating metal. The work was physically demanding, requiring strength, skill, and endurance, and blacksmiths were often highly respected members of the plantation community.

Welham Plantation is a former plantation located in St. James Parish, Louisiana. The plantation was established in the early 19th century and was one of the most extensive plantations in the region. It was a working sugarcane plantation, and like many other plantations in the area, it relied on slave labour to work the fields and maintain the property.

Today, the site is home to the Rural Life Museum, which features a collection of historic buildings and artefacts that tell the story of Louisiana's rural communities. Many of the buildings on the site were relocated from other locations and restored to their original condition.

Some of the buildings on the site include a blacksmith shop, a schoolhouse, a sick house, and a double-pen slave cabin. These buildings offer a glimpse into the daily lives of the people who lived and worked on the plantation. The museum also has a collection of farm equipment, including tractors and other machinery, that were used in the region.

Visitors to the Rural Life Museum can take guided tours of the site and learn about the history of Louisiana's rural communities. The museum also hosts annual special events, including a famous Harvest Festival in the fall.

This steam engine and water tender were built by Wagner and Son of Plainfield, Illinois, circa 1925. They were initially used to operate a children's train ride, likely at a park or amusement centre. The steam locomotive is a type of railway locomotive that produces its pulling power through a steam engine. Steam locomotives dominated railway transportation from the early 19th century to the mid-20th century. The advent of diesel-electric locomotives in the mid-20th century eventually led to the replacement of steam locomotives in most applications. However, steam locomotives are still used in some places for tourism and heritage railroads. The locomotive and water tender at the Rural Life Museum is an examples of using steam locomotives in tourism.

A dogtrot house is a type of domestic architecture typical in the Southern United States, typically in the rural South, dating back to the early 19th century. The house is usually a single-story building consisting of two log cabins connected by a breezeway or open-air hallway, called a dogtrot. The breezeway allows air to circulate through the building, making it more comfortable during hot weather. The two cabins are usually built under a single roof, with a central chimney providing heat for both cottages. One cabin is typically used as a living area, while the other is used as a sleeping area. Dogtrot houses were a popular form of housing in the rural South until the mid-20th century. Today, many examples of this architecture still exists and are appreciated for their historical and cultural significance.

The Stoker Barn is a historic log barn originally built by Riley Stoker in Sabine Parish, Louisiana, around 1845. It is a double-pen log structure with a central open passage and was used for over 150 years for storing hay and corn and for stabling mules and horses in its seven stalls. This type of barn was common in northern Louisiana. The barn remained in use on the Stoker family farm near Fort Jesup until it was donated to the Rural Life Museum by James and Rebecca Stoker Kyle in honour of R.J. and Bernice Stoker. The barn is now a part of the museum's collection and can be viewed by the public.

Longwood is a historic house museum in Natchez, Mississippi, United States. It was built in the mid-19th century as the largest octagonal house in the United States but was left unfinished due to the outbreak of the Civil War. Today, the house is an architectural oddity and an important historical landmark.

As for visiting hours and fees, Longwood is open for tours every day of the week except for major holidays. The terms are offered every hour, on the hour, from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The last tour of the day begins at 4:00 PM.

The admission fee for adults is $20, while children under 12 are free. There are also discounts for seniors, military personnel, and groups of 20 or more. Reservations are recommended, especially during peak tourist season.

It's important to note that Longwood is a historic house museum, and as such, visitors are not allowed to touch or handle any of the artefacts or furnishings. Photography is allowed, but the use of flash and tripods is not permitted.

Natchez is a historic city located in southwestern Mississippi, United States, situated along the eastern bank of the Mississippi River. The town was founded in 1716 by the French and served as an important centre of trade and commerce, particularly in cotton, throughout the 19th century. It was also the capital of the Mississippi Territory from 1798 until 1802.

Natchez is known for its well-preserved historic homes and architecture, particularly its antebellum mansions. One such mansion is Longwood, the largest octagonal house in America. It was designed by Samuel Sloan, a Philadelphia architect, and was built for wealthy planter Dr Haller Nutt in 1860. However, the outbreak of the Civil War halted construction, and the house was never completed.

Longwood is an example of the Oriental Revival style of architecture, with Islamic and Moorish influences. The house features a large, domed dome and an octagonal tower, as well as ornate decorative details on the exterior and interior. It is surrounded by beautiful gardens and a hill overlooking the Mississippi River.

Today, Longwood is owned and operated by the Pilgrimage Garden Club, and it is open to the public for tours. The mansion and gardens offer a glimpse into the opulent lifestyle of the wealthy Southern planters of the antebellum period, as well as the devastation caused by the Civil War. Visitors can see the unfinished upper floors of the mansion, which were abandoned when the war broke out, and learn about the lives of the Nutt family and their slaves. Admission fees vary depending on the type of tour, and visiting hours are generally from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Longwood was named after its long octagonal shape. The home's builder, Haller Nutt, intended it to be a grand statement of his wealth and status, and he spared no expense in its construction. However, Nutt died before the house was completed, and his family could not finish the interior. As a result, the home remained unfinished and unoccupied for over 100 years. The name "Longwood" became synonymous with the house during this time, and it has remained so ever since.

Hiram "Hiller" Nutt was born in Virginia in 1804 and later moved to Louisiana, where he became a successful planter and businessman. He owned several plantations and was involved in the cotton trade, becoming one of the wealthiest men in the region.

In 1836, Nutt married Ann Elizabeth Davis, and the couple had ten children. Nutt was known for his generosity and philanthropy, contributing to local churches and schools and supporting his community.

Unfortunately, Nutt died suddenly in 1864 before completing Longwood, his dream home. He died of pneumonia, leaving his family with an unfinished house and significant debt.

The Nutt family struggled to maintain their wealth after Hiram's death, and eventually, the family had to sell off their properties, including Longwood, purchased by a cousin in 1881.

There were some tragedies in the Nutt family. Haller and Julia Nutt's daughter Caroline Routh Nutt died in infancy, and their son Haller Nutt Jr. died at 13 in 1861. In addition, Haller Nutt himself died of pneumonia in 1864, leaving his family to continue living at Longwood plantation.

Haller Nutt was a Southern American planter born on February 17, 1816, on Laurel Hill Plantation in Jefferson County, Mississippi. His father was Dr Rush Nutt, and his maternal grandfather was David Ker, the first presiding professor of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Nutt was educated at the University of Virginia from 1832 to 1835 and then returned to Mississippi to help his father manage the Laurel Hill Plantation.

He owned several plantations, including Araby, Evergreen, Winter Quarters, Cloverdale, Laurel Hill, and Longwood. Nutt mainly grew cash crops, including cotton and sugar cane, which brought him considerable wealth. He made a net profit of more than $228,000 from agricultural enterprises in 1860 and owned 43,000 acres of land and 800 enslaved people. Nutt's fortune before the Civil War was more than three million dollars.

During the Civil War, Nutt suffered significant financial losses from destroying his cotton fields and real estate. However, General Grant spared the Winter Quarters plantation because Nutt was pro-Union. Nevertheless, the appropriation of stores and supplies by the Union and Confederate armies led to the foreclosure of Nutt's plantations in Louisiana. After the war, he filed documents with the federal government to compensate for the loss of assets due to the Union army.

Nutt married Julia Augusta Williams in 1840, and they had eleven children. They decided to begin construction on Longwood in the spring of 1860 and hired Philadelphia architect Samuel Sloan to design the multistory octagonal in the Oriental Revival style. Construction of the exterior was completed by the beginning of the Civil War. With the threat of the Civil War looming, Sloan's artisans soon halted their construction, fearing for their safety, and fled back to the North. The basement story was completed by slave labour and was ready for occupancy by 1862. Longwood is the largest octagonal house in the United States.

Nutt died on June 15, 1864, of pneumonia, leaving his family to continue living at Longwood plantation. There were some tragedies in the Nutt family, as their daughter Caroline Routh Nutt died in infancy, and their son Haller Nutt Jr. died at 13 in 1861.

Forks of the Road is a historic site located in Natchez, Mississippi. It was a primary slave market in the antebellum South, where thousands of enslaved people were bought and sold before the Civil War. The site was established in the early 1800s, and it remained in operation until the Civil War ended in 1865.

"Forks of the Road" refers to the intersection of two major roads that met at the site, forming a "fork" in the road. The place was strategically located in the heart of the cotton-growing region of the South, and it was a hub of commerce for the slave trade. It is estimated that over one million enslaved people were sold in the United States between 1808 and 1865, and many of them were sold through markets like Forks of the Road.

The enslaved people brought to Forks of the Road were often separated from their families and forced to work on plantations throughout the South. The conditions were brutal, and many died from overwork, malnutrition, and disease. Despite the horrific circumstances, enslaved people formed their own communities and cultural traditions, which helped to sustain them through the hardships.

Today, the site is preserved as a reminder of the dark legacy of slavery in America. A marker and interpretive panels stand at the site, which has become a place of reflection and education. The Forks of the Road Society, a local nonprofit, works to preserve the site and promote awareness of its history.

The Forks of the Road, located near Natchez, Mississippi, was a significant hub of the United States domestic slave trade in the 19th century. It operated between the 1760s and 1860s, transporting enslaved individuals from the northeastern colonies to the southeastern colonies and then to the lower Mississippi Valley. The location was reportedly America's second-largest southwest enslavement marketplace, with traders forcing enslaved people of African descent people from the old upper South to these regions to meet the insatiable demand for "slaves."

Isaac Franklin, a Tennessee-born "slave trader," and John Armfield were significant figures in the Forks of the Road's history. They formed the partnership Franklin and Armfield in 1828, with Franklin and his nephew managing the receiving and selling headquarters at the Forks of the Road. Armfield used professional agents to comb Virginia and Maryland, buying enslaved individuals and holding them in the Duke Street "slave pen" for conveyance by ship to Franklin in New Orleans.

The Fork of the Road was a bustling depot for trading in human flesh, with compounds set up for housing, feeding, and displaying people for sale. The location was not an auction house but a showroom and inspection room where buyers could purchase individuals from those available that day. The last sales at the Forks occurred in early 1863, just months before the U.S. Army occupied Natchez, bringing the Emancipation Proclamation and ending slavery there.

Despite the banishment of "negro traders" from the city in 1833, traders continued to purchase or lease land at the intersection of Liberty Road and St. Catherine Street, where the Forks of the Road was located. Traders flooded Natchez with human cargo, and Natchez residents and physicians warned that the slave jails were a nuisance and a threat to health. Nevertheless, the Forks of the Road remained a significant marketplace, serving as a nexus for the largest forced labour migration in American history. Between 1800 and 1860, more than 750,000 enslaved African Americans were moved from the upper to the lower South, reflecting a shift in the agricultural economy of each region and the legal closing of the international slave trade after 1808.

The House of Ellicott's Hill is a historic house in Natchez, Mississippi, on a hill overlooking the Mississippi River. The house was built in 1798 by Andrew Ellicott, a surveyor who was involved in the planning of Washington D.C. and who played a crucial role in the surveying of the United States-Mexico border. The house is also significant because it was owned by William Johnson, a free black man who became a successful businessman in Natchez in the early 1800s. Johnson is known for his diary, which provides a unique glimpse into the lives of both free and enslaved black Americans in the antebellum South.

There is a memorial located near the House of Ellicott's Hill that tells the story of the Civil Rights Movement in Natchez and the role of Mayor John J. Nosser, who was of Lebanese origin. Nosser was mayor of Natchez from 1962 to 1968, during a time of significant racial tension and unrest. The memorial highlights how the African American community did not trust Nosser because of his perceived support for segregation but also acknowledges his willingness to negotiate with the NAACP and his efforts to hire black employees. The Ku Klux Klan bombed Nosser's home and stores in Natchez due to his hiring of blacks and willingness to negotiate with the NAACP.

The memorial also acknowledges the progress made during the Civil Rights Movement in Natchez, including settling a three-month boycott of downtown merchants in 1965. This agreement, known as "The Natchez Agreement," represented an upgrading of the status of the African American community and was unparalleled in settlement of any similar protest in a southern city. The memorial serves as a reminder of the challenges and progress made during the Civil Rights Movement in Natchez. It honours the contributions of those who fought for equality and justice.

John J. Nosser was a Lebanese immigrant who settled in Natchez, Mississippi, in the early 20th century. He opened his first grocery store, the Natchez Super Store, in 1940, and by the mid-1960s, he was operating three grocery stores and had developed a shopping complex called Nosser City.

Nosser became mayor of Natchez in 1962, during the height of the Civil Rights Movement. Although he was a successful businessman, he faced opposition from the African American community, who did not trust him. His willingness to hire black employees and negotiate with the NAACP made him a target for the Ku Klux Klan, who bombed his home and stores in 1964 and 1965.

Despite these setbacks, Nosser remained optimistic about Natchez and believed in its future. He worked to settle a three-month boycott of downtown merchants by African Americans in 1965, and he continued to be involved in civic life until he died in 1989.

Nosser City and Nosser's Natchez Super Store eventually succumbed to competition from newer shopping centres and suburban residential development. However, Nosser's legacy as a successful businessman and community leader, as well as his willingness to stand up for civil rights, continues to be remembered in Natchez.

The steamboat played a significant role in the commerce and transportation of people and goods on the Mississippi River from the early 1800s to the late 1800s. The steamboat was invented by Robert Fulton in 1807, and in 1811, the New Orleans, the first steamboat to navigate the Mississippi River, docked in Natchez for the first time. The steamboat allowed for faster and more efficient transportation, and it contributed to the growth of Natchez's economy, which was primarily based on cotton and slavery.

In 1870, the famous steamboat race between Robert E. Lee and Natchez took place, with the Robert E. Lee completing the race in a record time of 3 days, 18 hours, and 14 minutes. In 1909, President William Howard Taft embarked on a steamboat trip down the Mississippi River to promote the merits of steamboat travel and investigate proposals to straighten and dredge the river. However, by 1900, the railroad had replaced the steamboat as the primary mode of transportation in cities along the river, and the Mississippi Steamboat Era ended.

Magnolia Grill is a quintessential small-town restaurant in the historic city of Natchez, Mississippi.

The restaurant is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. It is closed on Mondays except during Spring Pilgrimage.

Here, everyone knows everyone, and the waiters and waitresses have worked here for years, becoming almost like family to regular customers. The atmosphere is cosy and inviting, with a comfortable mix of locals and tourists. The restaurant has a warm and friendly vibe, with its cosy booths and wooden tables.

The menu at Magnolia Grill is famous for its regional cuisine and offers a wide range of dishes that are sure to satisfy any taste. Whether you're in the mood for fresh Mississippi and Louisiana farm-raised catfish, Gulf seafood, USDA Prime steaks, or burgers and sandwiches, the Magnolia Grill has got you covered. One thing to note is that the meals take some time to prepare because the restaurant cares about using fresh ingredients, so you can be sure that your food was cooked with love and served fresh. The portions are generous, and the prices are fair, making it a perfect choice for both locals and tourists.

The dessert menu at Magnolia Grill includes homemade bread pudding with a warm bourbon sauce, homemade chocolate pecan pie, and homemade coconut buttermilk pie, which is Great Aunt Edna Earl's family recipe. You can also ask your server about the day's special cheesecake. The restaurant caters to parties of up to 6 people, and a 20% gratuity may be added for larger groups.

The Magnolia Grill is located on Silver Street, which is home to several other businesses and a few remaining historic buildings. It was once known for being the roughest part of Natchez Under-the-Hill, home to gamblers, prostitutes, and criminals in the days of steamship paddle-wheelers. Today, it is a favorite spot for locals and tourists alike, offering a warm and welcoming atmosphere where everyone is treated like family. The gate at the Magnolia Grill parking lot closes at 10:00 PM.

It's no wonder that Magnolia Grill has been open for 20 years and has a loyal following of customers who visit three times a week.

John Parks, the owner of Magnolia Grill, has big plans for the restaurant while keeping its cherished identity intact. Parks want to make the restaurant quicker to enjoy a family meal, but he is also committed to maintaining the same family-friendly environment. He is excited to enhance the menu with more fish and top-of-the-line ingredients while making any changes gradually and with care.

For the people of Natchez, Magnolia Grill is not just a place to eat; it's a community hub that brings everyone together. It's where the locals go to catch up with each other and where tourists come to experience the Southern hospitality the city is famous for. In many ways, Magnolia Grill reflects the charming small town it calls home, and it will continue to be a fixture in the community for many years to come.

The Mississippi Riverfront in Natchez has a rich and varied history. It has experienced natural disasters, such as the deadly tornado in 1840, which destroyed the city and killed hundreds of people. However, the town was rebuilt, and new industries like rail service grew rapidly, leading to the construction of several railroad depots along the bluff. The Blue Cat Club, now located behind you, has also been a part of the riverfront's history, hosting the first professional performance of the rock and roll legend Jerry Lee Lewis at 13.

The decline of the steamboat era caused Natchez Under-the-Hill to lose its importance, with most businesses focusing on the ferry that operated between Natchez and Vidalia from 1900 to 1940. After constructing a bridge in 1940, Natchez Under-the-Hill became almost a ghost town. However, the area experienced a resurgence in the 1970s thanks to growing interest in historical tourism and steamboat travel. Legal gambling also returned to the waterfront in 1990, bringing new visitors.

Today, visitors to the Mississippi Riverfront in Natchez can explore the city's rich history by visiting its many historic buildings and museums, including the Natchez Museum of African American History and Culture, the Rosalie Mansion, and the William Johnson House. They can also enjoy the many restaurants and shops that line the riverfront and take a stroll along the riverbank, taking in the picturesque views of the mighty Mississippi River.

Natchez and Vidalia have a long history in trade and commerce, particularly along the Mississippi River. The river was crucial in transporting goods and people from one place to another, and both cities were important trading centres in the region.

Before the bridge's construction in 1940, transportation between Natchez and Vidalia was primarily by ferry.

However, the ferry system was not without its limitations. It was often affected by the weather and the river's conditions, which could cause delays and disruptions to transportation. The ferry system also had limited capacity, and during periods of high demand, people and goods could be stranded on one side of the river or the other.

In 1940, the John R. Junkin Bridge was constructed to connect Natchez and Vidalia. The bridge was a major engineering feat at the time, and it played a significant role in opening up the region for economic development.

The construction of the Natchez-Vidalia Bridge was a significant engineering and architectural feat. The original bridge was constructed in 1940 and was an early example of a truss bridge with no v-lacing or lattice on its members. The cantilever arms of the bridge held the suspended span from the top chord, which was an exceptional design detail at the time. It is noteworthy that this design detail was replicated in the companion bridge that was built in the 1990s.

The bridge's construction was contracted to Bethlehem Steel Company of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, for the superstructure and Dravo Contracting Company of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, for the substructure. The bridge was completed in 1940 and opened up new opportunities for commerce and trade between Natchez, Mississippi, and Vidalia, Louisiana.

During the 1600s and 1700s, several European powers established outposts for commerce, defence, and settlement in North America. Spain, France, and Great Britain were among the forces involved in establishing colonies in North America. French explorers used the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River to penetrate the continent, intending to develop strategic points for collecting raw materials and making the colonies self-sufficient. Great Britain established its tobacco-growing colonies along the Atlantic coast. At the same time, Spain searched for precious metals along the Gulf of Mexico, the Pacific coast, and throughout Central and South America. The European powers ultimately turned to importing enslaved Africans to provide labour for their ambitious colonial plans.

This imperial struggle in North America led to the French and Indian War in 1754-1763, which positioned France against Great Britain. Each side had strategic alliances with different American Indian tribes. This war resulted in British control of North America east of the Mississippi River, except for New Orleans.

France was the first of the three great European powers to recognise and appreciate the strategic importance of Natchez. French explorers crossed the Great Lakes and followed smaller streams into the Mississippi River. In 1673, Father Jacques Marquette and Louis Joliet descended as far south as the Arkansas River. In 1682, René-Robert Cavalier, Sieur de La Salle, discovered the point where the Mississippi River emptied into the Gulf of Mexico and laid claim to the entire Mississippi Valley in the name of France.

La Salle became the first Frenchman to encounter the Natchez Indians and declare them an ally. Between 1699 and 1702, the Natchez welcomed the explorer Pierre Le Moyne Albertville and allowed a French missionary to settle among them. The Natchez tribe of American Indians lived in the Natchez bluffs area along the lower Mississippi River valley. Archaeological evidence shows them in the region as far back as 700 CE. The Natchez had a complex and unusual social system with a stable matrilineal kinship society. Their last main political and ceremonial centre is preserved at the Grand Village of the Natchez Indians' mound site.

During the 1710s and the 1720s, the French presence and settlement in the Natchez territory increased from a handful of traders to hundreds of settlers and enslaved Africans. At first, the Natchez welcomed the French settlers, but growing tensions over the confiscation of land resulted in four wars between 1716 and 1729 and the removal of the Natchez from this area. The French introduced the use of kidnapped and enslaved Africans as a labour force in the Natchez District by 1719. The international slave trade was established in the 17th century when trading ships set sail from Europe with cargo destined for Western Africa. There, the goods would be traded for captured people to be sold into slavery. Once their ships were complete with human cargo, European traders would set sail for the Americas.

At first, the French envisioned a fur-trading economy in the Lower Mississippi River Valley. However, the newly established French Company of the Indies introduced tobacco as a cash crop in an attempt to replicate the financial success of the British in Virginia. The company quickly began to import large numbers of enslaved Africans to create a plantation economy. The Natchez Massacre in 1729 brought an end to those dreams. Not until the late 1700s, after marginal growth during the British and Spanish reigns, would the plantation slave-based economy begin to emerge. In 1795, Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin, and the Natchez District quickly became the centre of the tragic system of American chattel slavery.

The Natchez Visitor Reception Center, located at 640 South Canal Street, is a hub for tourists to learn about the history, culture, and attractions of the city. The centre offers a variety of services to visitors, including maps, brochures, and information about guided tours of historic homes and landmarks. It is also an excellent resource for information about local events and festivals throughout the year.

The reception centre is open seven days a week and staffed with knowledgeable volunteers eager to share their love of Natchez with visitors. The centre features exhibits on the city's history, including the Native American tribes who once inhabited the area, the European explorers who first settled here, and the enslaved Africans brought to work on the plantations.

In addition to the exhibits, the centre offers a gift shop where visitors can purchase souvenirs and other items related to Natchez's history and culture. The centre is near several of the city's major attractions, including the Mississippi River Bridge and historic downtown Natchez.

Whether you're a first-time visitor or a seasoned traveller, the Natchez Visitor Reception Center is a must-visit destination for anyone interested in learning more about this charming and historic city.

Windsor Ruins is an antebellum mansion located near Port Gibson, Mississippi. The estate was built in 1861 by Smith Coffee Daniell II, a wealthy cotton planter who owned a plantation land of 21,000 acres in Louisiana and Mississippi. The mansion had 23 rooms, an above-ground basement, two residential floors, and an attic. Greek Revival, Italianate, and Gothic styles influenced the mansion's architecture. The mansion's ell-shaped extension contained the kitchen, pantry, and dining room. The mansion also had rainwater storage tanks in the attic, which supplied water to two bathrooms. A dome, which provided a view of the Mississippi River, was centred on top of the roof.

However, Daniell died in April 1861, just weeks after completing his mansion. During the Civil War, much of the family's holdings were lost. After the war, the estate survived but was destroyed by an accidental fire on February 17, 1890. The only surviving parts of the mansion were the columns and ironwork. One flight of metal stairs from Windsor was installed at Oakland Chapel on the campus of nearby Alcorn State University. Unfortunately, all of the Daniell family's photographs and drawings of the mansion were lost in the fire.

The Mississippi Department of Archives and History now administers Windsor Ruins. Descendants of the Daniell family donated Windsor Ruins to the State of Mississippi in 1974. The site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971. In 1991, historians discovered a drawing of Windsor sketched in 1863 by a Union soldier in Major General Ulysses S. Grant's army. The soldier's picture is similar to the illustration reproduced in some sources. The site is a popular tourist destination and attracts visitors interested in history and architecture.

Windsor was named after a nearby plantation owned by the family of Smith Coffee Daniell II, who built the mansion. The plantation was named in honour of Windsor Castle, a royal residence in England.

Smith Coffee Daniell II was a prominent cotton planter in the antebellum South, born on July 9, 1826, in Wilkinson County, Mississippi. He was the son of Smith Coffee Daniell, a wealthy and successful planter, and his wife, Mary Freeman. In his early life, Daniell received his education at Centenary College in Louisiana.

After completing his education, Daniell took over his father's plantation lands and began to expand his holdings by acquiring additional land in Louisiana and Mississippi. He became one of the wealthiest cotton planters in the region, owning over 21,000 acres of land. In addition to cotton, he also raised corn, wheat, and other crops.

In 1854, Daniell married Catherine Freeland, and they had six children together. However, Daniell's life was cut short when he died in April 1861, just weeks after completing the construction of his magnificent mansion, Windsor. His wife and children continued to live at Windsor, but the family's holdings were devastated during the Civil War.

Despite his short life, Daniell left behind a significant legacy in the form of Windsor and his contributions to the plantation economy of the antebellum South.

During the American Civil War, the Windsor mansion played a role in Confederate and Union forces. Confederate forces used the mansion's cupola as an observation platform and signal station. Later, Union General Ulysses S. Grant and his troops took control of the mansion in 1863 as part of his Vicksburg campaign. The mansion was used as a hospital and observation station by Union troops, while the Daniell family was allowed to live on the third floor during the Union occupation.

Despite surviving the war, the mansion eventually suffered a tragic fate. In 1890, a fire broke out on the mansion's third floor, possibly caused by a guest dropping ashes from a cigarette or cigar into construction debris. The estate was destroyed, leaving only the columns, balustrades, cast iron stairways, and pieces of bone china.

For over a century, the mansion's outward appearance remained a mystery until an 1863 sketch of Windsor mansion was discovered in the papers of Henry Otis Dwight, a former Union officer of the 20th Ohio Infantry. It is believed that Dwight sketched while his unit was encamped on the mansion's grounds. Today, the Windsor Ruins site is administered by the Mississippi Department of Archives and History and contains 23 standing and five partial columns.

The ruins of Windsor Mansion have been featured in two movies. Raintree County, a 1957 film starring Elizabeth Taylor, Montgomery Clift, and Eva Marie Saint, featured the ruins as a backdrop in one scene. The ruins were also featured in Ghosts of Mississippi, a 1996 movie about the assassination of civil rights leader Medgar Evers. In the film, Windsor ruins represent the home of Evers' assassin, Byron De La Beckwith.

The Windsor Mounds in Mississippi, USA, is a group of Native American Indian mounds located just over half a mile north of the ruins of Windsor Castle. This antebellum mansion burned down in 1890. The banks were built by the region's Native American inhabitants several centuries before the arrival of Colonel "Pedro" Bruin, one of the three territorial judges of the newly acquired Mississippi Territory, who settled in the area in the 1790s.

The Windsor Mounds consist of four mounds overlooking a tributary of Bayou Pierre, with Mound A being the largest and best preserved, standing over 30 feet in height. The other mounds range in size from three to 15 feet. Archaeologists have determined that the banks were built between the late Coles Creek Period and the Plaquemine Period, which spans from about AD 1100 to 1600.

Excavations in 1971 on Mound A revealed evidence of a Plaquemine Period occupation and a late 18th-century cellar related to Colonel Bruin's residence on top of the mound. In 2013, archaeologists returned to Windsor to investigate the other mounds. They found evidence of Plaquemine Period buildings on the summit of Mound B, as well as pottery, stone artefacts, and animal bones.

The wooden buildings on top of Mounds A and B may have been either temples or the residences of influential Native American leaders, both of which are found on platform mounds of this period. The functions of Mounds C and D remain unknown, with Mound D being damaged by cultivation and visible only as a slight rise on the landscape. Mound C is the location of a cemetery where members of the Freeland and Daniell families of Windsor Plantation are interred.

Windsor is the location of the earliest known colonial settlement in the region, with Colonel Bruin residing in a house atop Mound A and keeping a barn on one of the other mounds. The significance of Windsor's Native American, early colonial, and antebellum history led to its listing on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.