Southerners have always been proud of their heritage, and there is no place where this pride shows more than the restoration of historic homes.

In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, Southern landowners built lavish testaments to their wealth. After the Civil War, many of these once-wealthy planters found themselves struggling financially. As a result, some of these architectural treasures were lost.

Beginning in 1858 with the chartering of the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association, Southerners began to preserve and restore their grand homes. Organizations such as the Daughters of the Revolution, the Colonial Dames, and the Daughters of the Confederacy, as well as historic foundations all rallied to preserve what Sherman's March to the Sea and America's march toward progress had not yet discovered.

In Marvelous Old Mansions and Other Southern Treasures, you'll find 132 historic homes, eight gardens, and thirteen living villages of historic districts. These sites are located throughout Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Louisiana.

Some of the mansions were the homes of famous men such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Andrew Jackson. Others were home to less-known men who poured their heart, soul, and fortune into their property. Certain houses may seem less grand than others at first glance, but they all played important roles in the history of their home states.

Whether you're interested in architecture, interior decorating, antiques, and history or simply looking for a way to spend an enjoyable day, this book will expose you to some of America's most lasting treasures.