Grand Village of the Natchez Indians and Rosalie Mansion Tour - Natchez, MS - Sept 7, 2014

Today started out a little overcast with less humidity so we headed toward the Grand Village of the Natchez Indians. This is a federal park that is maintained by the Mississippi Dept of Archives and History that has identified 2 of the 3 known mounds used by the Natchez Indian tribe. Mound A is no longer in existence, Mound B was where the "Great Sun" or tribe chief's house was built and Mound C was the ceremonial temple site. The park provides a short video about the history of the Natchez Indians and the documentation by the French.

I found it interesting that when the Great Sun died, his relatives and servants would be sacrificed so to follow him into the next world and take care of him. The home would be burned and a fresh layer of dirt would be added to the mound on which to build the next Great Sun's home.

Mound B "Great Sun" home would have been on top of the mound.

Our next stop was for another antebellum home tour. I decided on the Rosalie since 2 other places had recommended it. Longwood was always the 1st recommendation but we had toured it about 25 years ago.

Rosalie is located just to the north of the Visitor's Center and above the area known at "Natchez Under the Hill". The house didn't have to undergo much renovation as only family had every lived in the home. Most of the furniture was original. The Rosalie was Union Headquarters and the general had the parlor furniture all moved up to the attic to preserve it. A lot of the rich here were originally from the north so the military was sympathetic to them.

The Rosalie's front faces the north which always a wonderful breeze across both the verandas. The docent also pointed out that with the doors and window open, the breeze would flow all the way through the house. Here is the link to the history: The Rosalie Mansion. It is owned and maintained by the Mississippi Daughters of the American Revolution.

Again, no picture taking allowed inside so pictures courtesy of ones found on the internet.

The Rosalie

The men and ladies parlors

The children's room