National Register of Historic Places

Desert Plantation

Woodville, Wilkinson County, Mississippi
Listed
March 31, 1987
Type
Building
Period
Pre Contact
Ref No.
87000543

About this property

The Desert Plantation is a Southern plantation with a historic house located near Woodville, Mississippi in the Tunica Hills. The plantation was established by Robert Semple circa 1808. By 1814, Semple acquired more acres, totalling 1,000 acres. The Pinckneyville Creek flows through the plantation. The house was built from 1808 to 1812. It was designed in the Federal architectural style. By 1845, Semple added a Greek Revival wing to the original structure. By 1885, the Semple family sold the plantation to C. H. Norman. Norman in turn sold it to the McGehee and Merwin families, who co-owned an agricultural concern. The house was purchased by D. F. Merwin in 1917, whose family still owned the house by 1987. It has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since April 1, 1987.

Location

Woodville, Wilkinson County, Mississippi
31.02836, -91.47526

Categories

ARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
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Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
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Spotlight
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Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
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Nearby Historic Sites

Salisbury Plantation
Early Republic
2.8 mi
Arbuthnot's Grocery and House
Pre Contact
5 mi
Fort Adams Site
Early Republic
5.5 mi
Woodville Historic District (Boundary Increase II)
Listed
11.5 mi
Woodville Historic District
Listed
11.6 mi

Nearby Battles

Battle of Woodville
1864Civil War
11.6 mi
Skirmish at Woodville
1863Civil War
11.7 mi

Questions about this property

When was Desert Plantation listed on the National Register?

Desert Plantation was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 31, 1987.

What type of historic resource is Desert Plantation?

Desert Plantation is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Desert Plantation?

The period of significance for Desert Plantation is recorded as the pre_contact era.

Can I research the history near Desert Plantation?

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