Bellevue Plantation facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Bellevue Plantation
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Bellevue today, at the Tallahassee Museum
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| Location | Leon County, Florida |
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| Nearest city | Tallahassee, Florida |
| NRHP reference No. | 71000238 |
| Added to NRHP | March 11, 1971 |
Bellevue Plantation was a historic home located in Tallahassee, Florida. It was the home of Catherine Willis Gray Murat. She was a fascinating woman with a unique family history. Catherine was the great-grandniece of George Washington, America's first president.
Catherine bought Bellevue in 1854. This was after her second husband, Prince Achille Murat, passed away in 1847. Achille was the son of Joachim Murat, who was Napoleon's brother-in-law and once the King of Naples. Catherine's family also included famous explorer Meriwether Lewis.
The Bellevue Home
The name "Bellevue" comes from the Hotel de Belle-Vue in Brussels, Europe. Catherine and Achille had lived there for a time. The house has been carefully restored to look like it did long ago. It is filled with furniture from that time period.
Today, Bellevue Plantation is part of the Tallahassee Museum. You can find it in the "Old Florida" section of the museum. Visitors can explore the house and learn about what life was like on a plantation. There are also two other buildings nearby. These are a reconstructed plantation kitchen and a cabin where enslaved people lived. These buildings help visitors understand the full history of the plantation.
Life at Bellevue Plantation
In 1860, records show that Bellevue Plantation covered about 520 acres of land. About 470 acres were used for farming. The plantation also had farm animals and tools. At that time, 24 enslaved people lived and worked at Bellevue. Their labor was essential to the plantation's operations.
Catherine Murat: A Woman of Influence
During her years at Bellevue, Catherine Murat became very involved in an important project. She helped save Mount Vernon, which was George Washington's home. This was America's first big effort to preserve a historic site.
Catherine was chosen as the "Vice Regent" for Florida. This meant she was the main person in Florida organizing efforts for the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association. Florida raised a lot of money for Mount Vernon's restoration. It was the largest amount per person compared to other states!
During the American Civil War, Catherine helped local "Soldiers Aid Societies." These groups met to sew clothes for the southern troops. After the war, in 1866, she received financial help from the French government. This was because she had lost a lot during the war. Catherine Murat passed away at Bellevue on August 6, 1867.
After Catherine's death, Bellevue was sold to Captain Bloxham. Later, in 1883, the plantation was sold again to Edward Smeaton Thomson. At that time, it included about 357 acres of land.
