JACKSON, Miss.-
The home of Pulitzer Prize-winning author Eudora Welty is opening to the public for tours.
The Tudor Revival-style home, built in 1925 in the city's historic Belhaven district, was declared a National Historic Landmark two years ago.
Welty lived there for more than 75 years and wrote most of her fiction and essays there. She died in 2001 at 92.
Welty arranged for the house at 1119 Pinehurst St. and the collection of books that lines nearly every wall to be given to the state Department of Archives and History upon her death. She emphasized that she wanted visitors to know that books and culture were central to the life of her family.
The garden, which was designed by Welty's mother Chestina when the family moved in, was restored and opened to the public two years ago.
Many of the original plants–including a variety of camellias–are still thriving, and other heirloom specimens have been reintroduced. Chestina Welty kept a diary documenting her garden projects, many family photos were taken in the garden, and Welty mentioned it dozens of times in her work.
When the author lived in New York, her mother would cut camellia blooms and send them to her on the overnight train.
Tours of the house and garden are offered Wednesday-Friday, at 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Tour groups are limited to 12 people at a time and you must make reservations at (601) 353-7762. Admission is $5.
