| The largest and most elaborate octagonal house ever built in the United States, this fabulous structure was begun on the eve of the Civil War, but was never completed, because the owner was financially ruined by the war. Longwood was designated a National Historic Landmark (and thereby listed on the National Register) on 16 December 1969. New, more complete NHL documentation was compiled in 1975 and certified in 1977, confirming the NHL designation of the house along with 86.07 acres of surrounding land. It was designated a Mississippi Landmark, upon owner resolution, on 29 November 1994. The house is the subject of "The Heritage of Longwood," and of "The Landscape and Architecture of Longwood" by Harold Coolidge (Arris, 1993). It is also included in "The Majesty of Natchez" (1969/1981/1986) (pp. 70-71), "Historic Architecture in Mississippi" (1973) (pp. 42-46), "Plantation Homes of Louisiana and the Natchez Area" (1982) (pp. 80-81), "The Great Houses of Natchez" (1986) (pp. 64-68), "Architecture of the Old South: Mississippi – Alabama" (1989), "Architecture of the Old South" (summary volume) (1993) (pp. 313-315), "Classic Natchez" (1996) (pp. 36-37, 144-147, "Natchez: Houses and History ..." (2003) (pp. 152, 184-191), "Great Houses of Mississippi" (2004) (pp. 134-141), "Louisiana Architecture, 1840-1860" (2006) (pp. 458-463), and "Buildings of Mississippi" (2020) (p.52, ND57). [HABS: MS-1 (five photos made by James Butters on 14 April 1936)] |