Longwood, Natchez

State: Mississippi. Type: historic octagonal mansion, the largest octagonal house in the United States, at 140 Lower Woodville Road, Natchez. Designed by architect Samuel Sloan; built 1859 to circa 1864 for cotton planter Haller Nutt, with construction halted at the Civil War's outbreak (only 9 of 32 planned rooms completed). National Historic Landmark and National Register of Historic Places listing, both dated December 16, 1969; Mississippi Landmark since November 29, 1994. Owned and operated by the Pilgrimage Garden Club as a house museum.

Longwood, sometimes called "Nutt's Folly," is the largest octagonal house in the United States and one of Natchez's signature historic properties. Cotton planter Haller Nutt commissioned Philadelphia architect Samuel Sloan to design the six-story, Byzantine-domed mansion in the Italian Villa and Octagon Mode styles, and construction began in 1859. When the Civil War broke out in 1861, the Northern craftsmen working on the interior abandoned the project, and although the exterior shell and basement level were finished, Nutt died of pneumonia in 1864 with only 9 of the planned 32 rooms ever completed. The unfinished upper floors remain in that state today, giving visitors a rare, literal cross-section view of a grand antebellum house left mid-construction. Deeded to the Pilgrimage Garden Club in 1970, Longwood now operates as a house museum offering guided tours, and it gained additional pop-culture attention when its exterior appeared in HBO's "True Blood" in 2010.

Longwood is located at 140 Lower Woodville Road, Natchez, Mississippi 39120, on the outskirts of the historic river city of Natchez in southwestern Mississippi.

Natchez has a humid subtropical climate with hot, humid summers and mild winters typical of the lower Mississippi River valley. The property notes summer and non-summer tour hour variations, implying warmer months bring longer daylight and heat that shortens the daily tour window; specific temperature normals were not independently verified from a weather-service source for this entry.

Spring and fall bring milder temperatures for exploring Natchez's historic homes, including Longwood, and often coincide with the city's seasonal Pilgrimage house-tour events. Because tours run on the hour with a defined last-tour time that shifts from 3 p.m. (summer) to a later slot in cooler months, checking the current schedule before visiting is worthwhile.

Cotton planter Haller Nutt commissioned Philadelphia architect Samuel Sloan to design Longwood, and construction began in 1859 on what would become the largest octagonal house in the United States, distinguished by its Byzantine-style onion dome. When the Civil War began in 1861, the Northern artisans finishing the interior left the project, and the war's disruption of the cotton economy devastated Nutt's finances. Nutt died of pneumonia in 1864, having completed only 9 of the mansion's planned 32 rooms; the finished basement level was used as living quarters by the family for generations afterward, while the shell of the upper floors remained unfinished. The property was added to the National Register of Historic Places and designated a National Historic Landmark on the same day, December 16, 1969, and it was named a Mississippi Landmark on November 29, 1994. The Pilgrimage Garden Club received the deed to the property in 1970 and has operated it as a historic house museum since.

Guided tours, run on the hour, take visitors through Longwood's finished basement-level rooms and give access to view the unfinished upper floors, offering an unusual look at 1860s construction methods frozen in place. The grounds and distinctive Byzantine dome exterior are popular photography subjects. Tours are booked through Natchez Pilgrimage Tours, either online or at their Natchez office.

The finished basement level, furnished with period pieces, is the main interior space open to visitors. The unfinished upper floors, left exactly as workers abandoned them in 1861, are a signature feature unique among Natchez's historic homes. The building's exterior, topped by its Byzantine onion dome, is a landmark in its own right.

Longwood is reached most easily by car; Natchez is served by the small Natchez-Adams County Airport for general aviation, while larger commercial airports are in Jackson, Mississippi, and Baton Rouge, Louisiana, both roughly 1.5 to 2 hours' drive away. Within Natchez, Longwood sits a short drive from the historic downtown district.

Per Natchez Pilgrimage Tours, the first tour begins at 9:00 a.m. and the last tour starts at 3:00 p.m. (with a later last-tour time in non-summer months per general Natchez tourism sources), with tours running on the hour daily.

Per Natchez Pilgrimage Tours, admission is $25 for adults (18+), $20 for youth (13-17), and free for children 12 and under.

Tours last approximately 45 minutes to one hour, per Natchez Pilgrimage Tours; visitors typically pair Longwood with other Natchez historic-home tours to fill a half or full day.

Natchez itself, a short drive from Longwood, has a range of lodging from historic bed-and-breakfast inns in antebellum homes to standard chain hotels; specific property names were not verified from official sources for this entry.

Downtown Natchez offers a mix of Southern-style restaurants and casual dining within a short drive of Longwood; specific restaurant names were not confirmed from official sources for this entry.

Natchez's historic downtown, with numerous other antebellum house museums, is a short drive away and is commonly combined with a Longwood visit as part of Natchez Pilgrimage Tours' broader offerings. The Natchez Trace Parkway passes near the city for visitors extending a road trip.

Natchez-Adams County Airport serves general aviation locally; Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport and Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport, both roughly 1.5-2 hours away, are the nearest airports with substantial commercial service. A car is necessary to reach and tour Longwood.

Wheelchair access at Longwood is limited to the first floor only, per Natchez Pilgrimage Tours, so visitors with mobility needs should plan accordingly. As with any historic house tour, follow guide instructions around period furnishings and unfinished construction areas. For any emergency, dial 911.

A camera is worth bringing for the distinctive dome exterior and unfinished interior. Comfortable shoes suit the tour's walking and stairs, and a light jacket may help in air-conditioned or unfinished interior spaces depending on season.

Book tickets through Natchez Pilgrimage Tours online or at their Main Street office in advance, particularly during the spring and fall Pilgrimage tour seasons when demand is higher. Since tours run on the hour with a defined last start time, arrive with enough buffer to make your chosen slot. Combining Longwood with other Natchez historic homes in the same day is a common and efficient way to see the city's antebellum architecture.

Dial 911 for any emergency. For tour bookings and visitor questions, Natchez Pilgrimage Tours can be reached at (601) 653-0919.

Natchez Pilgrimage Tours - Longwood - https://natchezpilgrimage.com/year-round/longwood-circa-1860-1861/

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.