Natchez
December 23, 2025
Natchez Mississippi, where we spent the day, is another 
fascinating river town. For one thing, it is slightly older than New Orleans. And with 15,000 residents, it has over 1000 homes on the national register. At one time it was the center of the cotton trade, which attracted Yankees and slave traders. It had the
second most millionaires after New York and the second biggest slave market after New Orleans. The wealthy residents (who exercised conspicuous consumption in their lavish buildings on bluffs overlooking the river), voted against secession and surrendered the town without a fight, sparing many buildings. While post-civil war left buildings intact, the town was never again as prosperous. It says a lot about the racial composition of the city which numbered 6000 in 1860, and after the war, and the emancipation of the slaves, 16,000.
Our visits gave some insight on supporting the mansions today. Both buildings visited were still owned by the original families. One boasted fifth generation. She hosted a typical meal, feeding 12 of us with original family recipes. Part of what used to be a
plantation house is a bed and breakfast, and the hostess also does meals for groups. And of course, you can rent it for celebrations.
The other house started as a billiards building for the big house, gradually becoming a residence for younger family men before they went to 
college or took jobs elsewhere. The current descendant was a trained musician turned computer whiz who now invites groups like ours for a keyboard concert which included a composition by Louis Moreau Gottschalk , It also operates a bed and breakfast.
A third home is maintained by a garden club and one yesterday was a state park. The garden club provides docents and delicacies.
The guide showed us one mansion recently sold, we guessed for 1 to 2 million. He said it went for under 500000. Should bought it last time we purchased a house! The lower town, along the river, has mostly been abandoned.
The city proper sits on a 200-foot bluff whose strategic location attracted the Natchez tribe as well as the French. A Natchez attack led to French reprisals, basically wiping out the tribe. Only the name is left.