Of all the antebellum homes in Natchez, there’s one that definitely stands out above the rest.

According to the website Elle Décor, Longwood in Natchez is one of the “most historic and storied homes” in the country. The stunning mansion is truly a must-see, especially when you learn that only the exterior and basement are complete. The rest of Longwood remains unfinished to this day, making it as intriguing as it is impressive.

Take a look:

Samuel Sloan, an architect from Philadelphia, designed Longwood for Haller and Julia Nutt.
visitnatchez.org
The Nutts were Mississippi natives and "members of Natchez’s planter elite." Today, the property is still sometimes referred to as "Nutt’s Folly."
The home was inspired by "Oriental Villa," a drawing from Sloan’s book "The Model Architect."
Samuel Sloan (1815-1884)/Wikimedia
Dubbed "the largest octagonal home" in the country, it consists of six levels, which include a basement and observatory.
Construction on Longwood began in 1860 but came to a halt just one year later.
Michael McCarthy/Flickr
At the start of the project, Sloan hired skilled craftsmen from Philadelphia to build Longwood. However, when the Civil War broke out, the men abruptly stopped work on the mansion to head back north.
Though the exterior was mostly complete when the workmen abandoned Longwood, the entire interior, except for the lowest level, was unfinished.
sandrasdillon/TripAdvisor
According to the plans, the mansion was to contain 32 rooms. However, when all was said and done, only 9 rooms were actually finished.
As the only finished portion of the home, the basement became the Nutt family’s living quarters.
Ben Dunham/Flickr
The Civil War permanently ceased construction on Longwood. During the war, it was impossible to find skilled laborers, and after the war, Dr. Nutt was not financially able to fund work on the home. Despite being incomplete, the Nutts lived in the home until the 20th century.

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In 1971, Longwood was named a National Historic Landmark.
Brandoneagle2/TripAdvisor
Aside from completing the dome on top, Longwood has been left untouched. The unfinished state is meant to serve as a reminder of the effects of the Civil War.
Now owned by the Natchez Garden Club, the impressive mansion is open for tours.
Louise J/TripAdvisor
Guided tours are available everyday, except for Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Visitors can explore the both the finished and unfinished portions of Longwood.
Earl McGehee/Flickr
This includes the basement living quarters as well as the upper levels of the home.
In addition to Longwood, the grounds include several other sites open for touring.
Holly A/TripAdvisor
You can take a walking tour of the detached kitchen, privy, and cemetery.
Ready to see one of the nation's most impressive historic mansions for yourself?
Michael McCarthy/Flickr

Visit Longwood at 140 Lower Woodville Road in Natchez. For more information on Longwood, including tour dates and times, click here or call (601) 446-6631 or (800) 647-6742.

If you enjoyed this, be sure to check out “7 Historic Plantations In Mississippi That Are Being Reclaimed By Nature…And It’s Heartbreaking.“

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