Eudora Welty House and Garden

History buffs, book lovers, and visitors of all kinds are invited to step into the life and mind of Pulitzer-Prize-winning author, photographer, and Mississippi native Eudora Welty at her historic house and gardens in the Belhaven Neighborhood.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 2004, the 1925 Tudor Revival is one of the most well-preserved literary residences in the country. For 76 years, Welty lived, entertained, and wrote her stories there, leaving behind a treasure trove of books, artwork, and furnishings when her family gifted the house and its contents to the Mississippi Department of Archives and History. By guided tour only, each room reveals its own story of the experiences that shaped Welty's relationship with writing, creativity, and the arts. Visitors can look forward to exploring memorabilia like her vast collection of books, typewriters, cherished gifts from fellow authors she admired, and her famously tattered set of Dickens novels.

While most people know Welty as a writer, she was also an avid gardener. Her mother, Chestina, first designed the garden in 1925, and for years afterward, Welty spent many hours with her hands in the soil, planting numerous native flora and being inspired by the natural world. This love of the earth bled over into her writings, with more than 150 plant species appearing in her stories.

Welty kept detailed garden journals and correspondence with other famous garden enthusiasts, available for viewing during a tour. A "parade of bloom" all year long, even during the winter, the garden's historical design lovingly shows off annuals, perennials, bulbs, rare heirlooms, and Welty's favorite flower, the camellia. Recognized as an official stop on the American Camellia Society Gulf Coast Camellia Trail and a display garden for the American Daffodil Society, it's a must-see for those with a green thumb. Not to be missed is the garden's annual Heirloom Plant Sale in April, where "The Cereus Weeder" garden volunteers propagate hard-to-find plants for purchase.

HOUSE TOUR TIMES

All tours are guided and require admission

Tuesday–Friday: 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., & 3 p.m.

Saturday: 1 & 3 p.m.

RESERVATIONS RECOMMENDED

To reserve your tour, email info@eudoraweltyhouse.com or call 601-353-7762.

VISITOR CENTER AND GARDEN HOURS

Free, self-guided experiences (not house tours)

Tuesday–Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Saturday: 12:30 to 4 p.m.

Gift shop undergoing renovations and closed Aug 4-18