Natchez National Historical Park (U.S. National Park Service)

QUICKLINKS:

The City on the Bluff

Throughout its history, Natchez has always been a place of opportunity. This is evident throughout Natchez National Historical Park. From the magnificent antebellum estate of John McMurran, to the downtown home of African-American barber and diarist William Johnson, to the French Fort Rosalie, this diverse Mississippi River town has lent itself to opportunity for hundreds of years.

John T. McMurran: courtesy of Louisiana and Lower Mississippi Valley Collections, LSU Libraries, Louisiana State University

Mr. McMurran of Melrose

Born in Pennsylvania in 1801, John T. McMurran was a man of ambition. Drawn to Natchez by the prospect of wealth, Mr. McMurran married, established himself as a successful lawyer, and commissioned the construction of his elegant Melrose estate.
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William Johnson's Diary: park staff photograph

The Barber of Natchez

Born enslaved, William Johnson was freed at the age of eleven and later became a very successful barber and entrepreneur in the city of Natchez. From 1835-1851, Johnson kept a diary about daily activities in the city. His home, located on State Street, is part of Natchez National Historical Park.
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Melrose in the late nineteenth century: courtesy of Mississippi Department of Archives and History

Historic Homes

The Melrose estate, home of the John T. McMurran family, is one of two National Park Service units currently open to the public in Natchez.
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Write to

Contact Ranger
1 Melrose Montebello Parkway
Natchez, MS 39120

E-mail Us

Phone

Visitor Information
(601) 446-5790

Melrose
(601) 446-7970

Fax

(601) 442-9516

Climate

Winters in Natchez are moderate to mild. Summers can be extremely hot due to humidity.