Steele Cottage was built in 1829 by Guion and Prentiss, well know Vicksburgers. That was only 4 years after the town was incorporated. Mr. Steele bought the home before the civil war when he was headed to Ohio to bring his bride home. Mrs. Steele commented that she hoped he had not bought a two story home as she did not want a two story home. When he died a few years after the war she boarded up the downstairs and nobody went down there almost a hundred years. Three generations of the Steele Family lived in the home until the 1960s when the last descendant died. The home was acquired by Betty Barber Hammer of Vicksburg who's husband along with his brothers owned at the time the Hammer Galleries in New York City having acquired much Russian treasures after World War II. Harley Caldwell's mother, Mae-Mae, loved the house as a little girl. She and Harley's father acquired it in 1978. Later she was joined in the home by Rick and Harley who raised their children there. When the Caldwells purchased the Duff Green Mansion in 2015 they planned to sell Steele Cottage and move to Duff. This did not meet with their children's approval and the upstairs of Steele became a B and B.

The Caldwells are Vicksburgers. They brought over 60 years combined experience in the local real estate market to the Vicksburg hospitality industry in 2015 when against Rick's better judgement and Harley's insistence and determination they purchased The Duff Green Mansion. Rick has drunk the kool-aid they now run B and Bs at Steele Cottage where they continue to live downstairs, Duff Green and Halpino along with their partners Steven and Kendra Reed at the Inn at Cedar Grove.

Steele Cottage is located one block off Clay Street across the street from the world famous Walnut Hills Restaurant. We are within walking distance of the Old Court House Museum, the current court house if you are coming to try a case, and vibrant Washington Street filled with museums, restaurants and shopping.