Traffic on the road rushes past, at least occasionally. It is closed, but it hangs crookedly on its hinges. There is no longer a fence, and trampled grass shows that there must be something worth visiting behind the jungle. And indeed, here in the heart of Natchez, Mississippi, lies a place that carries the stories of times gone by - the ruins of Arlington.
The magnificent Federal-style mansion, now in ruins
This historic property, once a magnificent Federal-style mansion, now stands as a silent testimony to a glorious but also tragic past, lost and forgotten in the middle of a large piece of land that no longer has an owner.
A Place Full of Stories
The way to the house
Well, there is hardly any trace left of the magnificent and impressive mansion that Arlington must once have been. In 1973, the enormous house was added to the National Register of Historic Places, and in 1974, the authorities declared it a National Historic Landmark. This place in the heart of Natchez lies open, injured and destroyed and it carries the stories of times gone by - inside the walls of Arlington.
The nature fights back
Today it is not even an old house anymore. It is a ruin, burned down, collapsed, and gutted. And yet Arlington stands as a symbol of the rise and fall of the American South, of the wealth of the cotton barons on one hand, but also of the dark side of a time marked by slavery and social inequality.
Inside the lost place
The 22-hectare estate, which includes three outbuildings, was built between 1819 and 1820 and was then the home of the wealthy White family. John Hampton White, a native of Elizabethtown, New Jersey, and his wife Jane Surget White, daughter of a French immigrant and member of the influential Surget family, created a home here that radiated elegance and prosperity.
A small glue of what it once was
Like all the other rich people in the South, the family did not have to worry about the dollar. They could fulfill all their wishes. The high halls, wide corridors, and magnificent remnants of stucco still tell of this today.
Destroyed history
The spirit of the good years still seems to float through the air. But the family's happiness was short-lived: John died in 1819 during a yellow fever epidemic, and Jane followed him just a few years later in 1825.
The great way downstairs
Architectural Masterpiece
Arlington is considered one of the four most important Federal-style mansions in Natchez and laid the foundation for the region's later antebellum homes. Perched on a natural hill, the red brick house impresses with its symmetrical facade and the monumental Doric columns of the portico.
The former kitchen house behind the mansion
The entrance doors, decorated with radiating brick arches and carved marble capitals, testify to the craftsmanship of a bygone era.
Graffiti inside
Inside, the house follows a center-hall plan that gives structure to both main levels. The sophisticated Federal-style woodwork, including carved lintel panels, is still visible today - despite the decay and burn marks. Behind the main house are the service wings, which once served as kitchens and quarters for the staff.
The kitchen
These buildings tell of the hard work required to run such a property and are reminders of the social hierarchies of the time. The wooden walkways used at the time are now crumbling and rotting, and in some cases, have collapsed.
The former way from the kitchen house to the mansion
Tragedy and Decay
Not surprising after nearly a quarter of a century of vacancy. On September 17, 2002, a devastating fire destroyed large parts of the main house, including the roof and parts of the second floor. Although the Historic Natchez Foundation had a new roof built to save the building, the property continued to suffer damage from vandalism in the years that followed. Windows were smashed, woodwork destroyed, and the once-grand rooms fell into disrepair.
Ghosts of history
In 2009, the Mississippi Heritage Trust placed Arlington on its list of the ten most endangered historic sites in Mississippi. But the owner could not be found and was convicted in absentia of neglect. However, even after that, he did not show up, and so the future of the property remains uncertain.
Look at the ceiling
A Visit to the Ruins
Anyone who visits Arlington today is greeted by a melancholy beauty. It is quiet here; the air shimmers, mosquitoes hunt for blood. The red bricks shimmer in the sunlight, and the remains of the Doric columns are reminiscent of the house's former splendor.
Remainings of the past and a small flower that's growing in the dirt
As you carefully stroll through the ruins - every step can cause something to collapse - it is easy to imagine how life once pulsated here - from the opulent receptions in the main house to the busy atmosphere in the service wings.
It's a complete mess
But the sadness of decay is omnipresent. The fire of 2002 and the subsequent destruction by vandals have left deep scars. Arlington is now a place of memories where the ghosts of the past linger. It is a reminder of how quickly even the most magnificent homes fall into disrepair if no one lives in and preserves them.
Come in and find out...
A Symbol of US History
Arlington is more than just a historic house - it is a mirror of US history. It tells of the South's golden age, of wealth and power, but also of the dark side of slavery and social injustice. It is a reminder of the yellow fever epidemics that destroyed the lives of many families and of the fragility of human achievements.
Nobody has respect for anything
Today, Arlington stands as a memorial to the need to preserve our cultural heritage. It is a place that reminds us that history is alive not only in books, but also in the walls of old houses. May Arlington one day be brought back to life to tell the stories of John and Jane White and many others - and to remind us that we must preserve the past to shape the future.
God hasn't saved this house
