Monmouth (Natchez, Mississippi) facts for kids
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Monmouth
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Monmouth in 1962
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 Location in Mississippi
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1358 John A. Quitman Boulevard, Natchez, Mississippi |
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| Area | 26 acres (11 ha) |
| Built | 1818 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 73001001 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | April 26, 1973 |
| Designated NHL | June 7, 1988 |
Monmouth is a beautiful old home located in Natchez, Mississippi. It sits on a large 26-acre (11 ha) piece of land. The house was built in 1818. Later, around 1853, it was updated by John A. Quitman. He was a former Governor of Mississippi and a famous person from the Mexican–American War.
Monmouth is known as one of Natchez's most impressive Greek Revival style mansions. It was recognized as a special place called a Mississippi Landmark in 1986. Then, in 1988, it became a National Historic Landmark. Today, Monmouth is a fancy hotel where people can stay.
Contents
History of Monmouth
Early Owners: The Hankinsons
The house was first built by John Hankinson in 1818. He was a postmaster (someone who manages a post office), a lawyer, and a businessman. He named the house after his home area, Monmouth County, New Jersey. The house was originally a two-story brick building. It was built in the Federal style, which was popular back then. It had a wide hallway in the middle with four rooms on each floor.
There was also a separate brick kitchen building behind the main house. John Hankinson and his wife passed away soon after the house was finished. The property was then sold at a public auction. It was bought by Calvin Smith, who sold it a year later to John Anthony Quitman.
The Quitman Family Era
John Quitman was born in 1798. He became a successful lawyer in Natchez. In 1826, he bought Monmouth for his wife, Eliza Turner, and their growing family. Eliza came from a very important family in the city.
In 1853, the Quitmans made big changes to the house. They updated it to the popular Greek Revival style. The original brick was covered with a smooth finish called stucco. This stucco was made to look like large stone blocks. They also added a grand portico to the front. This is a porch with four large square columns supporting it. Quitman also added a back porch and a new section to the house. He even added a second floor to the separate kitchen building.
John Quitman passed away at Monmouth in 1858. His wife died a year later. Their five daughters and one son inherited the property. In 1862, during the American Civil War, the Union army attacked Natchez. Many of the people who worked on the property left. In 1863, Union soldiers stayed in the house. Many of Quitman's belongings were taken. By 1865, his daughters had to sell many things because they needed money.
The house itself was saved from more damage during the war. The daughters became friends with a Union general and promised to support the United States. Later, three of the daughters bought out their siblings' shares of the property. By 1890, Annie Rosalie was the only owner. When she passed away in 1914, the house went to her nieces. They sold it in 1924. For the next 50 years, the house was not taken care of. It became filled with trash, and the gardens grew wild.
Restoration by the Riches
After being owned by several different people, Ronald and Lani Riches bought Monmouth in 1978. They were from Los Angeles, California. They worked hard to bring the house back to its original beautiful condition. It took them three years to restore the main house and the old brick kitchen.
In 1982, after studying the property, they found where two small houses for workers used to be. They rebuilt these buildings in their original spots. Most of John Quitman's original furniture was gone. However, the house still had a few pieces, like a sofa and some chairs. The Riches looked for other furniture and items that belonged to Quitman. They found his desk, two four-poster beds, and the Quitman family Bible. Other special items now at Monmouth include a gold sword. This sword was given to Quitman by James K. Polk and the United States Congress for his service in the Mexican–American War. They also have a red handkerchief Quitman used to encourage his soldiers.
Monmouth Today: The Reuthers
Nancy and Warren Reuther are some of the current owners of Monmouth Historic Inn. They work with other private investors. They have a lot of experience in hotels and tourism. They make sure that all 30 rooms and suites have modern comforts. These comforts are added carefully so they don't spoil the historic look of the house.
Monmouth Historic Inn & Gardens
Today, Monmouth is a small, fancy hotel. It has 30 rooms and suites located in the main house and other buildings on the grounds. There is a nice restaurant called Restaurant 1818. There's also a more casual place to eat called The Quitman Lounge.
You can take tours of the mansion every day at 10 AM and 2 PM. There is also a gift shop that is open to everyone from 8 AM to 9 PM, seven days a week. Many famous people have stayed at Monmouth. These include President and Hillary Clinton, Michael Eisner, Alec Baldwin, Maya Angelou, Sela Ward, James Woods, Rob Reiner, Connie Chung, Morley Safer, Debbie Gibson, Ruby Dee, and Michael Damian.
