Rosalie

The mansion Rosalie, 100 Orleans St., occupies one of the most interesting historical tracts of land in Natchez.

In 1716, just south of the present mansion, the Frenchman Bienville erected Fort Rosalie on the bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River, making Natchez the oldest continu ous settlement on the river — two years older than New Orleans.

When Natchez became a part of the new Mississippi Territory in 1798, the American flag was raised over the old fort. However, the fort was used a very short time after that and fell into ruins.

The land passed to Col. Henry Willis, an officer in the American Revolution, then to his daughter and son-in-law and, finally, to Peter Little, who built the mansion Rosalie in 1820.

Rosalie likely was designed by Little’s brother-in-law, James Griffin. Gardens enhance the beauty of the house, especially a marvel ous restored garden on the western side of