What is Windsor Ruins?
Smith Coffee Daniel II a rich planter from Mississippi bought the Windsor Plantation of 2,600 acres and built a large mansion in 1859-1861.The remains of the classy antebellum architecture mansion is located in Port Gibson, Mississippi .This lovely place has now become a picnic spot and has been captured in some of the motion pictures .
Basic design of the mansion was done by David Shroder. Cost of $175,0000.00 have been incurred at the time of completion in the year 1861.Destiny played a paradox with Smith Coffee Daniel as he could stay in the mansion only for a few weeks before he died at the age of 34.
The four-storey mansion had twenty five rooms and twenty five fire places. There was a observatory on the roof top above the 4th floor.The Great American author Mark Twain viewed Mississippi river from the observatory .
The Mansion was used by the Union and Confederate troops during the days of the American Civil War. The same has been used as Union hospital and observation post during the war times. The civil war got over and the home continued to be a venue for social gatherings .
A guest left a lighted cigar on the upper balcony during a house party on 17 February,1890 and the house got into flames in no time. Except for the 23 columns,iron stairs and balustrades was the only remnants.
Mississippi Department of Archives and History’s Division of Historic s and Archaeology now governs the historic . On November 23, 1971 Windsor Ruins have been listed in National Register of Historic Places.