Unfinished octagonal mansion featuring a byzantine dome, Civil War-era construction remnants, and original family furnishings on the completed ground floor.
General Information
Last tour begins at 3pm
Children under 12: Free
Tickets available through Natchez Pilgrimage Tours
How to Get There
Take US-61 South from downtown Natchez, turn left onto Lower Woodville Road, and follow signs to the Longwood mansion entrance.
Overview
The Longwood Mansion, also known as “Nutt’s Folly,” is the largest octagonal house in the United States and one of the most iconic historic homes in Natchez. Construction began in 1860 under the direction of Haller Nutt, a wealthy cotton planter, but was halted by the outbreak of the Civil War. As a result, only the basement level was completed and furnished, while the upper floors remain unfinished to this day. The home’s unique octagonal design and onion-shaped dome reflect a blend of Italianate and Byzantine architectural influences, making it a rare and visually striking structure.
Visitors to Longwood can explore the fully furnished ground floor, which offers a glimpse into the antebellum lifestyle of the Nutt family, and view the upper levels that remain in their raw, mid-construction state. The contrast between the completed and unfinished sections of the home provides a powerful narrative of interrupted ambition and the impact of war. Guided tours share the story of the Nutt family, the enslaved laborers who built the home, and the architectural vision that was never fully realized. Longwood is a National Historic Landmark and a must-see for anyone interested in Southern history and architecture.
This article uses material from the National Park Service, Visit Mississippi, and official tourism pages for the Longwood Mansion, which are released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0.
