Fellow travelers: Please choose your favorite historic town to visit "antebellum homes" in the Old South.
Choose from these or add additional ones :

Helena, AR

Natchitoches, LA
St.Francisville, LA

Columbus, MS
Natchez, MS
Vicksburg, MS

Athens, GA
Jonesboro, GA
Madison, GA
Milledgeville, GA

Franklin, TN Thanks, Mike H. in central Illinois

Charleston SC
Savannah, GA

I found the selection of homes to visit in Natchez outstanding. Oddly enough, they were quite varied. In some cities they all sort of look alike. But there was a variety of styles both interior and exterior in Natchez.

If you can time your visit during a spring or fall pilgrimage, Natchez MS gets my vote also. My favorite, Longwood, is of special historical and architectural interest for it was started in 1860 and its interior was never completed due to the start of the CW. You may also elect to drive across the Mississippi River to see this family's Louisiana plantation home and a cotton museum with an original cotton gin on site. I would also recommend Vicksburg for its NP site, but its antebellum homes can't compare with those in Natchez for that city was under siege and suffered much damage during 1863.

Madison, GA!

I've been to the Natchez spring 'pilgrimage' and found that city to have the greatest concentration of antebellum homes open to tours of any in the south. There were a total of something like 40 homes open over three days (though it is different homes on different days and each day is a separate tour ticket). Because most of the homes are still private residences, the 'pilgrimage' is the only opportunity you have to see the inside of these properties. Most are in a fairly compact, walkable area in the center of town.

How much "ante" the "bellum" do you want to go? I assume you really want to see plantation mansions, but one of the things I enjoy about Savannah, GA and surprising Wilmington, NC, is that so much of the Revolutionary and Federal period is still evident. Some of the beautiful houses in both places are as much part of the shipping wealth of the new country after the war of 1812 as they are from the agricultural wealth from plantation life.

Just thought I'd put those two cents in.

Cassandra, I mostly am considering the Civil War or pre-Civil War period but I consider the plantation homes of the Federal or Revolutinary War period fine, too. I enjoy touring homes of every period. We enjoyed touring Monticello in 8/2002. The tour and the countryside is outstanding.

Eufaula, Alabama. Over 700 on National Register.

Natchez

I like Eufala, AL and Madison, GA. But here is one that none of you know about. It's a small town that doesn't have a large number of antebellum homes, but the town has been so isolated that the ones that are there are very nice. And there's no tour or formal display of these; they are all lived in. One or two have been converted to B&B's recently. The town?
It's McIntosh, FL, on highway 41 between Gainesville and Ocala. Kind of a jewel that has been isolated by the route of the interstate highway and by the decline of the citrus business. It's not something to make a special trip for, but if you are anywhere in central Florida you should drive through.

My husband grew up near the town of Reddick, which is about 6 miles from McIntosh. McIntosh has a festival in the fall, around the end of October called the 1890 festival which is pretty neat. (That's the year the town was founded). They have a website if anyone is interested. I don't know why I didn't think of them!

Last November I finally, after 20 years, had the opportunity to visit St. Francisville and Natchez - in addition to many other lovely cities on the way. I adored St. Francisville and can't wait to return. The b&b that we stayed at in St. Francisville had such an interesting history. The Printer's Cottage of the Barrow House Inn's. The building was over 300 years old and was built by the monks of St. Francis Of Assisi as their house of the dead. I did not plan to stay in such a historical building but it became a highlight of my vacation. I would also add Charleston and Savannah to my list as favorites.

ttt for Willy123

Prettiest GA town - Madison, GA
but you need to come during one of the Tour of Homes to actually visit the houses.

Savannah has more open to the public throughout the year.

we have been to most of these towns, and St. Francisville is our absolute favorite. It is lovely and not commercial compared to the other towns. We have stayed in most- maybe all of the b&b's in St. Francisville and out in the countryside over the past twenty years. We have enjoyed all of them.

love Natchez....but have to add Port Gibson, MS - just up the river toward Vicksburg. It's a true gem!

Natchez! I love Helena but it's in a very depressed Delta area, only scenic in spots...