Take a Walk through History in Vicksburg’s Magnificent Tour Homes
No visit to Vicksburg is complete without touring one or more of our historic homes. Vicksburg’s tour homes invite visitors to experience the grace and grandeur of bygone days. The homes vary in architectural style from early pioneer to Greek revival to Victorian Italianate. All have their distinct appointments that reflect the interests of the current owners.
Duff Green Mansion was built in 1856 as a wedding gift by successful businessman Duff Green for his bride Mary Lake. Prior to the Civil War the home was known for lavish parties. During the Civil War Duff Green Mansion was used as hospital by both Confederate and Union troops. After the July 4, 1863, surrender the mansion was leased to the United States Government for use as a soldiers’ home. In 1866 the Greens moved back into their home where they continued to live until Mr. Green’s death in 1880. Duff Green Mansion is open by appointment, for special events and operates as a bed and breakfast inn.
The Bazsinsky House (circa 1861) is indeed a feast for the senses. The current owners have amassed an eclectic blend of furnishings and fine art. The home was built by Joseph Bazsinsky as a town house and remained in the family through four generations until early in the twenty-first century. The Bazsinsky House operates as a bed and breakfast inn and has become one of Vicksburg’s favorite special-events venues.
Anchuca Historic Mansion was built in three stages starting in 1830. The Greek revival structure that you see today was completed in the 1847. It was once home to Confederate President Jefferson Davis’ older brother, Joseph. Anchuca features the owner’s collection of fine antiques, art and artifacts. Anchuca operates as a bed and breakfast inn and serves dinner and Sunday brunch in Café Anchuca.
The Corners Mansion, circa 1873, was built by the Klein family who lived across the street at Cedar Grove for their daughter, Susan. Built 8 years after the Civil War, the home is a combination of architectural styles from the Victorian era, classic Greek revival and Italianate and boasts original Vicksburg pierced columns. The elegance of the interior is accented by ornate plaster moldings and medallions and heart pine floors. The Corners operates as a bed and breakfast inn.
Built circa 1826, the McNutt House was home to Mississippi’s twelfth governor, Alexander G. McNutt. The tour highlights the life of the governor and his home. The house features vintage family antiques and curios. The McNutt House has been featured on the Biography Channel. As you tour the home and gardens, be sure to keep your eyes open for the one of the ghosts who resides there. You may run into Lt. D.W. Magill or the “Little Girl in the Blue Dress.” The McNutt House operates as a bed and breakfast inn.
The Baer House (circa 1849 – 1870) is an exquisite example of Eastlake Victorian, an architectural style that is rare in this region. Portions of the house predate the Civil War, but, the primary structure as we see it today was built by Leona Baer in 1870. The home features handcrafted American chestnut and black walnut detailed woodwork. Cisterns collected rain water and allowed for running water throughout the house. Baer House operates as a bed and breakfast inn. Be sure to check out the two-story privy!
A tour of Annabelle, circa 1868, gives details of the life of the original owner, Madison Klein. Your tour allows you step back into a more genteel time in history where opulence was the order of the day. Madison Klein was the son of the owners of Cedar Grove. Annabelle is furnished with period antiques and curios and is one of the region’s finest examples of Victorian Italianate architecture. Annabelle operates as a bed and breakfast inn.
The newest addition to Vicksburg’s tour homes is Grey Oaks. Originally built on the outskirts of Port Gibson in the Greek Revival style, the house was once called “Anchuka” which is derived from a Native-American word for “happy home.” The home was purchased by Michael Morrissey of Vicksburg in 1940 and meticulously dismantled. All salvageable parts were used to rebuild the home at its present location in the Federal style and renamed Grey Oaks. The home is an elegant adaptation of an 1860’s home. The owner is a passionate art collector of oil canvases, sculptures, clocks and period furniture which are featured throughout the home. Tours by appointment only.
After having been closed for nearly a decade McRaven, “The Time Capsule of the South,” has reopened for day and evening tours. The stories of life at McRaven have become legendary. Stories of the unprecedented collection of museum-quality antiquities, the tangible elements of McRaven, are known far and wide. But, the greatest reach of the legends of McRaven come from its intangible elements. It seems that several of the residents of McRaven who died there during the home’s 219-year history have decided to stay a while longer. McRaven is Mississippi’s most haunted residence and is said to be the third most haunted house in the country.
Vicksburg has quite an impressive collection of historic tour homes. You can learn about our early settlers’ rise to wealth prior to the Civil War and learn about the recovery that came in the years that followed. A complete list of Vicksburg’s historic attractions and hours of operation can be found at visitvicksburg.com.
