Longwood at 140 Lower Woodville Road in Natchez, Mississippi, is the largest octagonal house in the United States and one of the most unusual historic structures in the American South — a six-story Moorish Revival villa begun in 1860 for cotton planter Haller Nutt and left permanently unfinished when the Civil War interrupted construction and drove away the Northern craftsmen building it. The house, also known as Nutt's Folly, stands as a frozen record of antebellum ambition interrupted by war.
The exterior is extraordinary: a massive octagonal form rising from a two-story veranda to a Byzantine-influenced dome and onion-shaped finial above. Philadelphia architect Samuel Sloan designed the house in an eclectic Orientalist style with details drawn from Moorish, Byzantine, and Italianate sources. Construction halted in spring 1861 at the basement level after Northern laborers received word of secession and departed overnight, leaving their tools scattered on the upper floors where they remain to this day — an uncanny time capsule of interrupted work.
Guided tours take visitors through the basement floor — the only fully finished portion of the house — where the Nutt family sheltered during the Civil War years in increasingly desperate circumstances. Haller Nutt died in 1864, and the family remained in the finished basement until the property was eventually sold. The unfinished upper floors are visible through interior openings, with rough timber framing, brick scaffolding, and abandoned craftsmen's tools still in place exactly as they were left in 1861.
Admission is $16 for adults and $8 for children ages 6–17. Tours last approximately 45 to 60 minutes and run continuously during operating hours. Free parking is available on site. The property is administered by the Pilgrimage Garden Club.
Good to know
- Hours
- Daily 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM (last tour 4:00 PM)
- Best time
- Morning visits for the full 1-hour guided tour; the upper floors were never completed due to the Civil War
Location
140 Lower Woodville Rd, Natchez, MS 39120
31.5461, -91.3814 View on map
Highlights
- Largest octagonal house in the United States, designed in a Moorish Revival style by architect Samuel Sloan
- Construction halted in 1861 — Northern craftsmen's tools remain on upper floors exactly where they were left
- Ornate Byzantine-influenced dome and onion finial visible from Lower Woodville Road
- Guided tour of the basement floor — the only fully finished level — where the Nutt family lived during the Civil War
- Frozen-in-time upper floors revealing raw timber framing and brick scaffolding mid-construction
Tips for visiting
- Tours depart continuously during operating hours — no advance booking required for standard visits.
- The upper floors are not accessible to visitors; the tour focuses on the finished basement and exterior.
- Morning visits allow the best light on the dome's exterior for photography from the entrance avenue.
- Combine with Stanton Hall (1.5 miles north in downtown Natchez) for a contrasting view of antebellum wealth.
- Free parking is available in the gravel lot on Lower Woodville Road.
When to visit
Morning visits in spring and fall provide the most comfortable conditions and the best exterior light on the dome. The house is open daily year-round; summer morning visits are advisable to avoid midday heat on the grounds.
Accessibility
The basement floor tour is accessible via a ramp at the side entrance. The unfinished upper floors are not accessible. The surrounding grounds path is unpaved but relatively level. Accessible restrooms are available near the parking area.
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Frequently asked questions
Why was Longwood never finished?
Construction was halted in spring 1861 when the outbreak of the Civil War caused the Northern craftsmen building the house to depart overnight, returning home rather than working in the South. Haller Nutt lacked the resources to resume construction and died in 1864.
How long does the guided tour of Longwood take?
Tours typically last 45 to 60 minutes. The guide covers the history of the Nutt family, the architect Samuel Sloan, and the story of the house's construction and interruption.
Can visitors access the upper floors of Longwood?
No. The unfinished upper floors are not accessible to the public for safety reasons, but they are visible through interior openings during the basement tour, and the guide describes their contents including the abandoned tools.