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Melrose: A Glimpse into Antebellum Grandeur

Step back in time at Melrose, a perfectly preserved antebellum estate in Natchez, Mississippi, offering a glimpse into 19th-century Southern life.

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Melrose is a beautifully preserved 19th-century estate in Natchez, Mississippi, showcasing Greek Revival architecture and offering insights into the lives of a wealthy planter family and the enslaved people who worked the land. Part of the Natchez National Historical Park, it provides a window into the pre-Civil War South.

A brief summary to Melrose

  • 122 Melrose Ave, Natchez, Mississippi, 39120, US

Local tips

  • Reservations for guided tours of the mansion are highly recommended, especially for groups, and can be made through Recreation.gov.
  • Allow at least 2.5 hours to fully experience the guided tour of the main house, explore the outbuildings, and walk the grounds.
  • The grounds and outbuildings are free to explore, even without taking the mansion tour.
  • Consider visiting during the Natchez Spring Pilgrimage to see Melrose and other historic homes decorated and open to the public.
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Getting There

  • Driving

    Melrose is located at 1 Melrose-Montebello Parkway, easily accessible from U.S. Highways 84, 98, and 61. From downtown Natchez, take Melrose-Montebello Parkway, and follow the signs for Natchez National Historical Park. Parking is available on-site. Parking is free.

  • Walking

    From the Natchez Visitor Center at 640 S Canal Street, walking to Melrose is approximately 2 miles and takes about 40 minutes. Head east on Canal Street, then turn left onto Melrose-Montebello Parkway. Follow the parkway to the entrance of Melrose.

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Discover more about Melrose

Melrose stands as one of the most intact antebellum estates in the South, located in Natchez, Mississippi. This 80-acre property, now part of the Natchez National Historical Park, features a 15,000 square foot Greek Revival mansion constructed in the 1840s for John McMurran, a successful lawyer and planter. The estate offers a comprehensive view into the lives of the McMurran family and the enslaved African Americans who were essential to the plantation's operations. Visitors can explore the main house, outbuildings including the kitchen, dairy, and slave quarters, and formal gardens. The mansion itself is notable for its architectural details, such as the Doric columns, faux marble finishes, and interior features like carved Ionic columns and ornate plasterwork. Many of the furnishings are original to the McMurran family, offering an authentic glimpse into antebellum life. Originally, McMurran purchased 132 acres to construct the estate. He named it 'Melrose' after Melrose Abbey in Scotland, a place he had previously visited. The estate changed hands a few times, and in 1990, the National Park Service acquired it. Today, Melrose is open for public tours, providing insights into the complexities of the cotton economy and social structure of the pre-Civil War South.

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