These 9 Towns in Mississippi Have Beautiful Architecture
Mississippi is a historic and beautiful state. Known as the "Magnolia State," its architectural significance spans many periods, from Beaux-Arts and Colonial Revival to Ranch and International styles.
These nine towns in Mississippi have beautiful architecture but are not exclusive. The state is filled with historic and modern architecture, but these nine states are a microcosm of Mississippi's treasure trove of architectural styles.
Natchez
Natchez is a beautifully historic town with many classic architectural styles, almost too many to mention. The common style is antebellum mansions; one of the most beautiful is the Towers of Natchez. The Towers were built over three periods, the first in 1790 with the Western expansion of Colonialism. The second construction began in 1826 in the Neo-Classical style, and the final iteration was in 1858 with the Italian Villa-Renaissance Revival.
Another exquisite mansion is the Monmouth Historic Inn and Gardens, built in 1818. Today, the 26-acre gardens around the mansion are available for public viewing, as is the estate. The Auburn was built in 1812 in the Federal style and dominated by a portico with Roman Ionic Columns.
Vicksburg
Vicksburg was pivotal in the Civil War, but the definitive pre-war architecture survived. There are over 14 architectural styles, including Greek Revival, Shotgun, and Colonial Revival. The Anchuca Mansion and Inn was built in the late 1820s and refurbished in the Greek Revival style in the 1840s. Today, it serves as a quaint bed and breakfast inn.
The McRaven House, built in 1797, was originally built in Walnut Hills, now Vicksburg. It is considered the most haunted house in Mississippi and is open for tours. The Visit Vicksburg organization offers tours of these and others, like the Duff Green and Corners mansions.
Columbus
Columbus is an architectural marvel with 250 structures on the National Historic Registry, including the birthplace of playwright Tennessee Williams. A walking tour is ideal for exploring classic architecture, especially Third Street. At the intersection of College Street, you will find an 1880 Italianate-style home and, on the opposite corner, an 1825 cottage. Other notable homes are the 1854 Gothic Revival Errolton and the Sherrod Home, built in 1848 and now owned by the Lindamoods.
The Orr Building is an ornate Gothic Revival and Queen Anne structure at Mississippi University for Women, built in 1885. A fair argument can be posited that this is the most historical town in Mississippi in terms of architectural styles. A walking tour will take you past numerous styles, allowing for an observant appreciation of the various styles.
Aberdeen
Aberdeen is among the best in terms of architectural style and elements. These include stained glass, lead glass, towers, and more. To start, two gas stations were built in the 1920s and 1930s, both on Maple Street and are historic landmarks.
St. Francis of Assissi Catholic Church was built in 1927 and is one of the few Missionary buildings in the state. The Old Homestead and the Monroe County Courthouse are remarkable structures. The Old Homestead was built in 1852 and combined Greek Revival with Gothic. The Courthouse, built in 1857, is a classic Antebellum and is Mississippi's longest continuously running courthouse.
Holly Springs
Holly Springs is known for its Antebellum and Greek Revival structures. Airliewood is one of the prettiest Antebellum structures in the state. The gated estate was built in 1858 and is one of the most well-known in Mississippi. The Montrose, circa 1858, is a two-story Greek Revival with Roman columns and has been extensively written about.
However, there is a sole Federal-style mansion, Linden Terrace. It was built in 1844 and has been owned by many prominent citizens. Most of the town is on the National Registry of Historic Places, and these classic homes are a small part of the extensive list.
Greenville
Greenville, in the fertile Mississippi Delta, is known for contributing to American Blues music and agriculture. It also has stunning architectural contributions, like the Belmont. The 9,000-square-foot mansion, built in 1857, is the last Antebellum on the Delta.
Distinguished commercial structures include the Neoclassical First National Bank Building, circa 1903, and the National Guard Armory. This Art Deco building is a landmark that was built by two architects in 1938 as part of the New Deal. Carrie Stern Elementary School, built in 1938, is a classic Georgian Revival and demonstrates the various architectural forms throughout town.
Bay St. Louis
Bay St. Louis started as a vacation locale for New Orleans residents, and the structures were built from the city's building style. Shotgun, bungalow, Queen Anne, Gothic Revival, and Creole cottages are common. St. Rose de Lima is a remarkable church built in 1868 as an African American school and converted to a church and parish in 1925.
The Bay St. Louis Historic L&N Railroad Train Depot is a mission-style design built in 1925. Most of the architecturally noteworthy homes are found in the 175-acre historic district. The beachfront homes include the Swoop and McDonald Houses. The Swoop House is Gothic Revival, while the McDonald House is Queen Anne. As a side note, the pastel-colored houses were constructed in the 1930s, and their choice of paint distinguishes them from other architectural identities.
Yazoo City
Yazoo is home to beautiful structures, including the Natchez Under-The-Hills Historic District. The district was once a part of Natchez before the Revolutionary War. The Bank of Yazoo is a corner building built in 1904 in the Beaux-Arts style and a centerpiece of the town. The courthouse is a three-story hipped roof brick structure completed in 1872.
The Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church was built in the early 19th century and was the first African American brick building in Mississippi. Significant homes include the Augustus J. Oakes House. The Oakes moved to Yazoo City in 1866 as free persons of color and bought the land with an existing homestead. The original home is now the rear wing of the house, and each has taken on various building restoration projects.
Laurel
The Laurel Central Historic District comprises 369 historic structures, including Neoclassical, Shingle, Queen Anne, Bungalow, and American Craftsman styles. Laurel boasts the most diverse 19th-century architecture in Mississippi. Though the homes differ in style and period, they blend seamlessly with each other in a quaint and symbiotic way.
Such important homes include the Newell Rogers House, built in 1909 in the Neoclassical style, and the Rogers-Greene House, built in the Prairie style. This 7,000-square-foot home is a rare example of the Prairie style in the region and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Most homes in the historic downtown were built during the lumber years from 1893 to 1937. They are the largest intact homes from this period in Mississippi.
Discover Architectural Wonders Across Mississippi
Mississippi's beauty extends from its centuries-old oak and magnolia trees to its classic sense of architecture. The designs represent the finest styles from each modern architectural period and are a marvel. A little education about the different styles and periods and a walking tour around any of these towns is a worthwhile endeavor.
Towns like Laurel and Columbus have a variety of styles, but they mesh perfectly without any one style taking center stage. This is a rare feat that these small towns have pulled off. Taking a tour through these wonderfully built homes and commercial structures is like taking a veritable architecture college course.
