601 S. Union St., Natchez, Mississippi. County/parish: Adams.
Added to the National Register of Historic Places November 04, 1982. NRIS 82004975.
1 contributing building.
Ravenna is a historic two-and-a-half-story mansion located in Natchez, Mississippi, United States. Constructed between 1835 and 1836, it was commissioned by William Harris, a prominent merchant commissioner, planter, and Natchez alderman. The mansion is an example of the Greek Revival style, a dominant architectural trend in the antebellum South, and is believed to have been built using designs influenced by the notable American architect and author Asher Benjamin.
By the 1850s, ownership of the property had passed to the Metcalfe family, who retained it for over a century. The Metcalfe descendants eventually sold the property to Dr. Mallan Morgan in the 1980s. In more recent years, the house has been owned by Carl and Mary Beth Beasley, who have maintained its historic integrity.
Ravenna was officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 4, 1982, in recognition of its architectural significance and its role in the historical narrative of Natchez.
The mansion’s address has been documented as both 8 Ravenna Lane and 601 South Union Street. Ravenna is part of a family compound that historically included two additional residences: Ravenna Cottage at 4 Ravenna Lane, and Ravennaside (constructed circa 1900), also located at 601 South Union Street. The entire compound, representing different phases of residential development and architectural styles, was incorporated into the Downriver Residential Historic District when it was added to the National Register in 1999.
(read more...)National Park Service documentation: https://catalog.archives.gov/id/73890671