Take a tour of Magnolia Hall in Natchez

Magnolia HallImage Source: Wikimedia Commons

Magnolia Hall in Natchez is located at 215 S Pearl St. It is a historic home and a museum. Natchez has quite a few historic, antebellum homes but Magnolia Hall is also unique in its own right. The house got its name because of the plaster magnolia blossoms that are seen as designs in the parlor ceiling. The magnolia designs are also found in the center hallway cornices.

Here is what you can expect when you take a tour of Magnolia Hall.

Background

Magnolia Hall was first constructed in the 1850s as the residence of Thomas Henderson who was a cotton broker and merchant. It sits on top of a slight plateau at the corner of Pearl and Washington Streets. It was designed by architect J. Edwards Smith.

The house is designed in the style of the Greek Revival period with a nice portico and Italianate embellishments. Magnolia Hall also has a brownstone exterior. It is one of the few antebellum homes in Natchez with the brownstone.

In 2016, Magnolia Hall was renovated with a grant from the Mississippi Department of Archives and History. The grant required that the walls and columns be restored to their original color. The Natchez Garden Club was responsible for the restoration.

Tours

According to the Natchez Garden Club, Magnolia Hall offers two tours a day. Adult tickets are $20 and student tickets are $12. Children age 11 and under get to tour for free. Tour guides are available to help and provide information about the home. However, access on the tour is only provided to the first floor. No masks are required.

Don't be surprised if you see a lady wearing a period costume greeting the visitors on the tour.

The rooms on the main floor are filled with antiques while the upper floor contains a costume collection. The costume museum includes sections that are staged with mannequins displaying period clothing from the 1800s. The mannequins are spread out over three rooms. There are also vintage dolls displayed.

An interesting tidbit about the house is that a shell from a Union gunboat during the Civil War landed in a soup container in the kitchen

In addition to tours, the house offers scheduling for a Victorian luncheon and candlelight dinners. There is also a gift shop on the premises. The garden located on the grounds is perfectly manicured and symmetrical.

Magnolia Hall can also be used as an event venue. It is the perfect location for a wedding or business event. You can also organize a Southern luncheon for business or personal events. The luncheon offers a set menu and a tour of the mansion.

If you are in Natchez, do stop by Magnolia House. It may not be as popular as the Longwood or Rosalie House but it does have its own charm.

Source: Natchez Garden Club

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