Mississippi has an seemingly endless array of vibrant, bustling attractions to visit, but there’s one hauntingly beautiful spot that was abandoned more than a century ago. While you can’t see it in its former glory, what remains is incredibly picturesque.

The Windsor mansion was built by Smith Coffee Daniell II, a wealthy cotton plantation owner.
Wayne Hsieh/flickr
Much of the construction of the mansion was completed by slaves, though several artisans were brought in for some of the detail work.
The mansion was three stories, and was around 17,000 square feet, with as many as 25 rooms.
Wayne Hsieh/flickr
Each room had a fireplace, and the home even had two indoor bathrooms. The home was completed in 1861.
Mr. Daniell died at age 34, shortly after construction was completed. His wife lived in the mansion until it burned down in 1890.
faungg's photos/flickr
It's believed that a guest's cigarette ash sparked the fire on the third floor on February 17, 1890. The fire raged through the mostly wood construction, leaving nothing but the columns and ornamental iron.
The ornate detail of the Corinthian capitals at the top of the columns were made of iron, so they survived the fire and are still visible today.
Toni G/Tripadvisor

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The brick bases, or plinths, were constructed with red bricks baked in a kiln onsite.
Charles M./Tripadvisor
Though they're crumbling now, they have held up remarkably well for more than 100 years.
All of the family's photographs and documents were destroyed in the fire, and for many years, it wasn't known for sure what the mansion originally looked like.
Visit Mississippi/flickr
In 1991, this sketch belonging to a Union soldier was found. The soldier likely stayed at the mansion when it was occupied by General Ulysses S. Grant's troops.
Read all about the Windsor mansion during your visit.
Stephen/flickr
The mansion and property were donated to the state of Mississippi in the 1970s.
When you visit, be respectful of the boundaries, and make sure to stay behind the fence.
Lukeamotion/flickr
While these immense columns have stood for a century, they're not necessarily stable. You'll see where pieces of the columns have eroded and fallen off over the years.
You'll find the Windsor Ruins at 15095 Rodney Road in Port Gibson.
Google
You can visit seven days a week, from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Here’s another abandoned spot in Mississippi…and this one is pretty creepy. Check it out!

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