After exploring the Windsor Ruins, we continued on to Natchez to tour Longwood, the largest octagonal house in America. I think this may have been my favorite site on our Arkansas to Mississippi trip.

The wealthy cotton planter Dr. Haller Nutt, had construction on Longwood commence in 1860. The American Civil War broke out the following year and consequently, the interior of the home was never fully completed as all the craftsmen had fled North. Nutt died in 1864. His wife, Julia, and their eight children lived in the basement of the mansion until she died in 1897. The basement was the only portion that was completed.

Julia Nutt's carriage house next to the back of the mansion.

Julia Nutt's carriage.

The tour begins at the back entrance, which leads into the basement. The basement, the only completed section of the home, contains all the original furnishings from the Nutt family. It's also the only area in which we were not allowed to take photos. This E-Zine can provide photos if you are curious: http://www.newsouthernview.com/pages/nsv_ie_longwood.html

After the basement tour, we were led to the first floor of the house. This is a view to the top from the first floor.

View from the balcony.

Floor plan of the second floor.

Luggage and shipping crates left by the Nutt family.

Sitting neat the cane sugar boiler.

We learned from Aerial America that Longwood was featured as the Vampire King's mansion in HBO's True Blood. I don't watch that show, being rather squeamish, but it seems to be a popular show. That wasn't mentioned on the tour.

After the tour, we continued on to historic downtown Natchez to stroll down Silver Street. During the flatboat era, Silver Street led to the heart of the most notorious port on the river, Under-the-Hill.

Under-the-Hill was known as a bustling "resort of the damned". Not much remains today.

Riverboat Casino floating on the murky waters of the Mississippi.

The Mississippi River.