Auburn (Natchez, Mississippi)

Auburn

Auburn, Duncan Park in 1936
Location Duncan Park, Natchez, Mississippi
Coordinates 31°32′44″N 91°23′27″W / 31.54565°N 91.390733°W / 31.54565; -91.390733Coordinates: 31°32′44″N 91°23′27″W / 31.54565°N 91.390733°W / 31.54565; -91.390733
Area 4.2 acres (17,000 m2)
Built 1812
Architect Levi Weeks
Architectural style antebellum Federal style
NRHP Reference # 74001047
USMS # 001-NAT-4002-NHL-ML
Significant dates
Added to NRHP May 30, 1974[1]
Designated NHL May 30, 1974[2]
Designated USMS January 5, 1984[3]

Auburn is an Antebellum Greek Revival mansion in Duncan Park in Natchez, Mississippi. It was designed and constructed by Levi Weeks in 1812, the first planned building in the town.[4] It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1974[2][5] and a Mississippi Landmark in 1984.[3]

History

In 1811, Lyman Harding, the first Attorney General of Mississippi, hired Levi Weeks, a young self-proclaimed architect, to design and build the mansion. The original building was 60 feet (18 m) by 45 feet (14 m) with a two story portico supported by four columns and includes an unusual floating spiral staircase between the first and second floors.[4] Levi Weeks designed the house to be, in his words, the "most magnificent building in the state."[5]

After Harding died in 1820, the building was bought by Dr. Stephen Duncan, who expanded the house to include two symmetrical wings, greatly expanding interior space. Duncan later abandoned the building amidst growing secession tensions just before the American Civil War, and the house was placed in the care of his descendants.

The building and 222 acres (90 ha) was sold by the family to the city of Natchez in 1911 and is now a historic house museum in a public park.[4][5]

References

  1. ↑ National Park Service (2007-01-23). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
  2. 1 2 "Auburn". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Archived from the original on 2011-06-06. Retrieved 2007-10-18.
  3. 1 2 "Mississippi Landmarks" (PDF). Mississippi Department of Archives and History. May 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 9, 2010. Retrieved April 20, 2009.
  4. 1 2 3 "Auburn Museum and Historic Home". Retrieved April 21, 2009.
  5. 1 2 3 Paul Goeldner (n.d.). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Auburn" (pdf). National Park Service. and Accompanying 2 photos, 1 exterior and 1 interior, from 1973. (507 KB)

External links

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