The Creole home, designed in 1829 by architect James Freret, was once owned by Civil War General William Canon Rivers. Over $1 million worth of "lost" Civil War artworks from leading American illustrators and artist-correspondents such as Walton Taber (197 illustrations discovered), J.U. Davidson, Harry Fenn and others were found in the attic.

The collection, which revealed many new and unknown aspects of the battles and fighting men, was published as The American Heritage Century Collection of Civil War Art. Purchased by TMR in 1999 for $350,000.