from www.auburnmuseum.org
NATCHEZ, Miss. – City officials and the Historic Natchez Foundation are working on a plan to reopen and maintain historic Auburn, the antebellum mansion forced to close because its longtime curators don’t have the wherewithal to operate the tourist attraction.
Owned by the city since 1910, Auburn has been staffed for many years by a group of volunteers. However, the dwindling number of house guides and a decrease in visitors forced Auburn to close last week as it struggles to pay its bills.
However, the Natchez Board of Aldermen and Mayor Dan Gibson agreed Tuesday to work with the Historic Natchez Foundation to develop a plan to put Auburn back on the tourism map and maintain the 210-year-old mansion.
from www.auburnmuseum.org
Built in 1812, Auburn is the first architecturally-designed mansion built in Natchez, according to historical accounts. It’s been designated a National
Historic Landmark by the federal government. The Duncan family that owned Auburn since 1820 donated it to the city in 1910 along with the adjoining 210 acres that’s now Duncan Park.
HNF executive director Carter Burns said historic preservation students from Tulane University will be there soon to assess Auburn’s conditions and do an inventory of its furnishings.
Gibson expressed confidence the city and HNF will develop a plan to reopen Auburn for tours, keep it maintained and “make it available to all the public to enjoy for many years to come.”
The mayor praised the private group — formerly known as the Auburn Garden Club — led by Clark and Phyllis Feiser that’s been operating Auburn as a tourist attraction for decades. A ceremony is scheduled Monday for the group to formally hand over Auburn’s keys to the mayor.
Preserving and restoring Auburn has been a constant process. A recent project is for repairing the front columns and renovating the billiard hall next to the main house. This was funded earlier this year with about $300,000 from the city and the state Department of Archives & History.
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