NATCHEZ — Marilyn and Steve Brown got more than they came for when visiting Natchez Saturday.

The Ridgeland couple came to town to visit Melrose, but after hearing Auburn Antebellum Home was hosting an open house, they had to stop there too.

And they were glad they added the extra stop to their day trip.

“The majesty and the size of the house is just breathtaking,” Steve Brown said.

Marilyn has been to Natchez before and gone on house tours, but this was the first time inside Auburn.

“This is such a neat event to open the house like this,” she said. “Everything is beautiful and beautifully decorated for Christmas.”

Auburn is owned by the City of Natchez and maintained by the small group of volunteers that make up Auburn Antebellum Home.

Phyllis Feiser, president of the group, said there are currently nine active members and approximately 10 affiliate members.

The group hosts a holiday open house each year to say “thank you” to the citizens of Natchez and visitors that enjoy the house year after year.

“This is how we give back to the community,” Feiser said. “We like to show off our house, because we think it is just spectacular.”

The group provides docents for the house year round, all of which are volunteers, and also undertake many maintenance and restoration projects to help “keep the house beautiful.”

This year the group completed a heating and air conditioning project for the upstairs of the house, restored two of the capitals on the columns on the front porch and are working on the remaining two and are refinishing the front door and entrance to the house.

“We all really do love Auburn and want to make it the best it can be,” Feiser said.

And judging from Marilyn Brown’s reaction to the house, the group has done well.

“It’s fantastic,” she said. “The whole house is gorgeous and adding the Christmas touches to the décor, just makes it more special.”

Auburn is open for tours from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. The last tour begins at 2:30 p.m.