Civil War Traveler and Blogger
Major Isaac Hite Jr. Belle Grove Plantation, like many homesteads in the south during the Civil War, witnessed the horrors and devastation of battle. On the morning of October 19, 1864, the home would play a part in a drama that unfolded for a wounded general. In 1783, Major Isaac Hite Jr - grandson of… Continue reading Belle Grove Plantation at Cedar Creek
The south is known for its destructive hurricanes. Few have to be reminded that Louisiana seems to suffer the worst of them. The most recent was Hurricane Ida, a category 4 hurricane that made landfall on August 30, 2021, unleashed 172 mph winds upon southeast Louisiana and caused an overall $95 billion in damage. As… Continue reading Hurricane Ida vs. Louisiana Plantations
Few plantation homes in and around New Orleans have diversified and commercialized their historic site as grandly as Houmas House. Now, I don’t mean that in a bad way at all. Houmas House has maintained its historical integrity while also working overtime to meet the needs of the visitors and community as a whole. The… Continue reading Houmas House – Sugar Palace on the Mississippi
There’s a saying that every human being on the planet is connected by just six degrees of separation. Nowhere is this more exemplified than in the case of Ellwood Manor, nestled in the heart of the Wilderness. The legacy begins with two brothers. William and Churchill Jones were the sons of Churchill Jones and Millicent… Continue reading Ellwood Manor – Connections in the Wilderness
Since we're about to talk about how one of the most famous Civil War Union generals completely upended the eastern theater in 1864, I thought it'd be prudent to share a live video broadcast from earlier in March. In light of the Corona virus, many national parks and museums made efforts to bring history education… Continue reading White Haven – U.S. Grant’s Home in Illinois
To wrap up the Mobile Mansion Series, I’m going to give you one last gorgeous historic home to visit while you’re still hanging around the city. It’s a bit of a drive to get to and it doesn’t have much of a Civil War legacy to it, but it’s worth visiting nonetheless. Bellingrath wasn’t always… Continue reading Bellingrath – A Piece of Heaven in Mobile
Downtown Mobile is so rich in history that it’s impossible to know where exactly to start. My personal suggestion is to go with the trifecta of historic attractions. Fort Condé, Mobile History Museum, and the Condé -Charlotte House. To understand the extensive history of the home, one has to look even further back than when… Continue reading The Condé-Charlotte House – A Tour Through History
The more I research the Civil War, the more I begin to recognize influence in everyday things. Street names, businesses, etc. So, when I saw “Bragg-Mitchell House” as an attraction and wedding venue in Mobile, Alabama, you must guess what my first thoughts were. I knew this place had to have some connection to the… Continue reading Bragg-Mitchell Mansion – A Survivor of the War
Not far from Downtown Mobile lies another hidden treasure. On a quiet street sits a narrow, two story brick home that might look like any other in the De Tonti Square District if it weren’t for the intricate lace ironwork column and baluster designs. Like the plantation homes with their towering pillars and opulent architecture,… Continue reading Richards DAR House – Home of a Mobile Captain
Nestled in a cluster of residential homes sits a brilliant Greek Revival masterpiece. Its property is shielded by towering live oak trees whose branches twist and curve, covered in blankets of greenery that gives the estate a true Southern aesthetic. This home, named for the meadow of oaks that surrounds it, Oakleigh now stands as… Continue reading Oakleigh House – A Meadow of Oaks
Belle on the Battlefield 