Dunleith
Encyclopedia
Dunleith is an antebellum
mansion in Natchez, Mississippi
. The previous building, Routhland had been built by Job Routh and passed down to his daughter Mary Routh. When it was struck by lightning and burned down in 1855, her husband, General Charles G. Dahlgren
rebuilt the home. It was sold for $30,000 in 1858 (equal to $ today) to Alfred Vidal Davis who renamed it Dunleith. It was declared a National Historic Landmark
in 1974.
The 26 room house sits on 40 acres (16.2 ha) along with several outbuildings including a carriage house, a dairy barn, a poultry house, and a three story brick building. The main building has a Greek revival
design and includes 26 Tuscan columns built of brick and stucco. There are porches around the entire building on the first and second floor. The first floor includes windows similar to those in Monticello
which roll up to become doorways.
The 1957 film, Raintree County
was partly filmed at Dunleith.
It has been a historic house museum with tours for the public as well as a historic inn since 1976.
It is also the place they filmed the movie "Beulah Land" from 1980 starring Lesley Ann Warren (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080197/fullcred its). If you follow the story about the Dunleith Plantation you will find that the original owners, the Routh family continued with Mary's daughter, Sarah Anne Ellis Dorsey, whom owned the Davis Plantation in Biloxi, MS until her death when she gave the home, originally named the Bouviour Mansion to General Davis (thus the new name, the Davis home and plantation). To read more on the Routh history and Sarah Anne Dorsey go http://mshistory.k12.ms.us/articles/366/sarah-anne-ellis-dorsey-a-woman-of-uncommon-mind
Antebellum architecture
Antebellum architecture is a term used to describe the characteristic neoclassical architectural style of the Southern United States, especially the Old South, from after the birth of the United States in the American Revolution, to the start of the American Civil War...
mansion in Natchez, Mississippi
Natchez, Mississippi
Natchez is the county seat of Adams County, Mississippi, United States. With a total population of 18,464 , it is the largest community and the only incorporated municipality within Adams County...
. The previous building, Routhland had been built by Job Routh and passed down to his daughter Mary Routh. When it was struck by lightning and burned down in 1855, her husband, General Charles G. Dahlgren
Charles G. Dahlgren
Charles Gustavus Ulrich Dahlgren was a Confederate brigadier general during the American Civil War. He commanded the 3rd Brigade, Army of Mississippi, before a dispute with the President of the Confederate States of America, Jefferson Davis, cost him his career.-Early life and career:Dahlgren was...
rebuilt the home. It was sold for $30,000 in 1858 (equal to $ today) to Alfred Vidal Davis who renamed it Dunleith. It was declared a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
in 1974.
The 26 room house sits on 40 acres (16.2 ha) along with several outbuildings including a carriage house, a dairy barn, a poultry house, and a three story brick building. The main building has a Greek revival
Greek Revival architecture
The Greek Revival was an architectural movement of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, predominantly in Northern Europe and the United States. A product of Hellenism, it may be looked upon as the last phase in the development of Neoclassical architecture...
design and includes 26 Tuscan columns built of brick and stucco. There are porches around the entire building on the first and second floor. The first floor includes windows similar to those in Monticello
Monticello
Monticello is a National Historic Landmark just outside Charlottesville, Virginia, United States. It was the estate of Thomas Jefferson, the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence, third President of the United States, and founder of the University of Virginia; it is...
which roll up to become doorways.
The 1957 film, Raintree County
Raintree County (film)
Raintree County is a 1957 Technicolor film drama about the American Civil War. It was directed by Edward Dmytryk. The film stars Montgomery Clift, Elizabeth Taylor, Eva Marie Saint, and Lee Marvin....
was partly filmed at Dunleith.
It has been a historic house museum with tours for the public as well as a historic inn since 1976.
It is also the place they filmed the movie "Beulah Land" from 1980 starring Lesley Ann Warren (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080197/fullcred its). If you follow the story about the Dunleith Plantation you will find that the original owners, the Routh family continued with Mary's daughter, Sarah Anne Ellis Dorsey, whom owned the Davis Plantation in Biloxi, MS until her death when she gave the home, originally named the Bouviour Mansion to General Davis (thus the new name, the Davis home and plantation). To read more on the Routh history and Sarah Anne Dorsey go http://mshistory.k12.ms.us/articles/366/sarah-anne-ellis-dorsey-a-woman-of-uncommon-mind
External links
- Dunleith - official site
- Natchez Pilgrimage Tours - provides mansion tours including Dunleith