Waverley (West Point, Mississippi) facts for kids
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Waverley
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Waverley in 1975
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 Location in Mississippi
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | West Point, Mississippi |
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| Built | 1840 |
| Architect | Multiple |
| Architectural style | Octagon Mode |
| NRHP reference No. | 73001004 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | September 20, 1973 |
| Designated NHL | May 30, 1974 |
Waverley is a beautiful old mansion in Clay County, Mississippi. It used to be a large plantation home and is now a historic house museum that you can visit. Built around 1838, it's special because of its huge eight-sided tower, called a cupola, on the roof. In 1973, it was recognized as a National Historic Landmark, which means it's a very important historical place in the United States.
Contents
What Waverley Looks Like
Waverley sits between two towns, West Point and Columbus, in Mississippi. It has a great view of the Tombigbee River.
Outside the Mansion
The main house has two stories and looks a bit like the letter 'H'. It has a sloped roof, and from the middle of that roof, a giant eight-sided tower, the cupola, rises up another two stories! The house also has fancy Greek Revival details, like decorative columns (called pilasters) on the corners and a detailed trim (called a cornice) under the roof.
Inside the Mansion
Inside, the house is very fancy. On each floor, four rooms open up into a central eight-sided area. The most amazing part is the original gas chandelier that hangs right in the middle of the cupola, lighting up the whole space.
The Story of Waverley
This grand home was built before the American Civil War. Its first owner was George Hampton Young, a colonel from Georgia. He named the house after a famous novel called Waverley by Sir Walter Scott.
A Self-Sustaining Community
From its completion around 1852, Waverley Plantation was like its own small town. It had everything it needed to run itself! There were gardens, fruit orchards, and many animals. The plantation even had its own brick kiln to make bricks, a cotton gin to process cotton, and an ice house to keep things cold. There was even a swimming pool with a bathhouse.
The mansion's fancy chandeliers were lit by gas, which was made right there on the property by burning pine knots. Later, Waverley also had its own lumber mill, a place to make leather (a tannery), and even a hat factory. People believe that the first saddle blankets made in America came from Waverley. Also, the first fox hunt club in the area was started in the mansion's library in 1893.
Restoration and Tours
After the Young family line ended in 1913, the mansion slowly started to fall apart. But in 1962, the Robert Snow family began the huge job of restoring Waverley to its original beauty.
Today, you can visit Waverley and take a tour! It's open on Sundays from 1 pm to 5 pm, and from Tuesday to Saturday, 9 am to 5 pm.
