Stop 8 Melrose Cistern Building

Melrose Cistern Building

NPS Archives

Quick Facts

Location:

Natchez National Historical Park

Designation:

National Historic Landmark

Amenities

1 listed

Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits

Because Natchez sits on a bluff 200 feet above the Mississippi River, it was difficult to drill water wells. People built cisterns to collect rainwater for drinking, cooking, and washing. These waterproof tanks could be above or below ground. The Melrose cisterns are all underground. They are made of brick and lined with natural cement. Rainwater runs through downspouts from the gutters around the roof of each building. At the bottom of each downspout is a metal “boot” that swivels. These funnel the water either into a cistern or into a pipe that drains out onto the ground. A copper sieve filled with charcoal helped to filter the water. A series of underground pipes connects the cisterns behind the Melrose mansion so that as one filled with water it would flow to the next one.

These cisterns are capped with hand pumps to allow access to the water within. The two main cisterns behind the mansion have elaborate lattice work “covers.”

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