McRaven House

Introduction

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Often referred to as "time capsule of the Old South,"Vicksburg's McRaven House is the best-preserved antebellum home in Vicksburg. The estate was built in three phases, the first dating back to 1797, the second in 1836, and the final phase occurring in 1849. The home is a fine example of Greek Revival architecture and also includes elements of the Federal and Italianate styles. Notable features include porches on both floors with paired columns and decorative millwork, and decorative interior Grecian plasterwork and woodwork. The house is open to the public for tours that emphasize the architectural history of the lives of the families that owned the home. Inside, visitors will see antique period furnishings, some of which belonged to the home's former residents. The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979 and has been featured in LIFE Magazine, National Geographic, and on The Travel Channel.

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McRaven House dates back to 1797 and is the best-preserved antebellum home in Vicksburg

Backstory and Context

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The first part of the house was built in 1797 by Andrew Glass. At that time, the home was a simple two-story brick structure consisting of a kitchen on the first floor and a bedroom on the second. Glass was apparently a highway thief, robbing travelers on the road along the Natchez Trace Trail, which ran from Natchez, Mississippi to Nashville, Tennessee. When Glass went to sleep he pulled up the ladder to the second floor to protect himself in from being ambushed. In 1836, the house was expanded by Sheriff Stephen Howard, who added a stairway, bedroom, dining room, and a two-story porch. Sadly, his wife, Mary Elizabeth, died in August that year after giving birth.

The last phase of expansion was completed in 1849 by John H. Bobb, who appears to have bought the property from his brother, William, in 1844. Bobb was a successful brick maker and sawmill owner. He added the parlor, master bedroom, men's changing area, flying wing staircase, and the Italianate facade which is viewable today. By 1869, Bobb had passed away and his widow sold the house to a local machinist and inventor, William Murray. Murray's daughters, who never married, lived in the house until 1960. The house was restored in the 1970s. It is unclear when the property became open to the public. To enhance the appeal to tourists, tour guides share the stories of locals who claim that the ghosts of Mary Elizabeth, John Bobb, and Andrew Glass haunt the house.

Sources

"About." McRaven House. Accessed January 23, 2021. https://www.mcraventourhome.com/history.

McCahon, Mary. "Bobb House." National Park Service - National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form. January 8, 1979. https://npgallery.nps.gov/GetAsset/52f00a0a-d142-46fd-8893-14477e8f9e1d.

Image Sources(Click to expand)

Wikimedia Commons: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:McRaven_House.jpg

Additional Information