1 minute read
Rosalie
Next Article
The mansion Rosalie, 100 Orleans St., occupies one of the most interesting historical tracts of land in Natchez.
![](https://assets.isu.pub/document-structure/230206214601-68076570ad71c168c803aadecb079b3d/v1/3ffa2d85d9405cfb9da10069b751efda.jpeg)
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