List of the oldest buildings in Mississippi explained

This article attempts to list the oldest extant buildings in the state of Mississippi in the United States. Some dates are approximate and based upon dendochronology, architectural studies, and historical records. The area that is now Mississippi was originally inhabited by Native Americans. The city of Natchez was first established by French Colonists in 1716, and is one of the oldest and most historically important European settlements on the Mississippi River. The region was colonized and traded between French, Spanish, British, and American forces during the 1700s and a diverse architectural legacy remains visible in about ten surviving structures from that period.

To be listed here a building must:

List

BuildingImageLocationFirst BuiltTypeNotes
Mississippian Mounds, e.g. Emerald Mound siteThroughout state800–1600Earthen moundsThough no original Native American buildings remain above ground, a number of constructed platform mounds have been preserved.
LaPointe-Krebs HousePascagoula1757House/MilitaryThe LaPointe-Krebs House is the oldest building in Mississippi, and the state's only surviving French Colonial structure. As one of the oldest structures on the Gulf coast of the United States, it currently operates as a museum open to the public and has recently undergone an extensive restoration.[1]
Dog Trot House "Scotia"Grand Gulf1768HouseThe oldest British Colonial structure in the state. It was originally located in a Scottish Highlander settlement of Scotia five miles south of Roxie in Franklin County, Mississippi. It was built by Thomas Foster and notably has wooden pegs instead of nails. It was donated to the Grand Gulf Military State Park in 1974.[2]
King's TavernNatchez1769–1789MilitaryTraditionally considered the oldest British Colonial structure in the state, the second oldest building, and the oldest building in the city of Natchez. According to some scholars, the more likely date of construction is as late as 1798-1799.[3]
Mount LocustStanton1780House/InnAn early British home, plantation, and Inn built along the old Natchez trace. Operated as a museum by the National Park Service.
Hope FarmNatchez1780–1792HouseAn early Natchez house that at one point served as the home of the Spanish commandant of Natchez District and colonial Governor of Spanish West Florida, Carlos de Grand Pré. He is believed to have built the house although it is contended that it was built before he purchased the property meaning it could be even older than believed. Later it was the home of Katherine Grafton Miller, the founder of the Natchez Pilgrimage. In March 2023, it suffered a fire that claimed the life of its longtime owner.[4]
RichmondNatchez1784HouseAn early Natchez house that was potentially built for Juan St. Germaine, an Indiana interpreter.[5] The house was later notably owned by banker and planter Levin R Marshall who added two distinct additions to the original center section of the house.
LindenNatchez1785HouseAn early Natchez home that was built for Alexander Moore . Later additions or alterations in 1815.
Springfield PlantationFayette1786–1791HouseIt is an early plantation house built for Virginian Thomas M. Green Jr. It is among, if not the oldest, masonry buildings in the state. It is also believed to be the site of Andrew Jackson's infamous first wedding to Rachel Robards (née Donelson).
Spanish HouseGrand Gulf1790HouseThe oldest surviving of two remaining original buildings in the ghost town of Grand Gulf. It was restored in 1958 and is located in the Grand Gulf Military State Park.[6]
AirlieNatchez1793HouseAn early Natchez home built by planter Stephen Minor during the Spanish colonial period. Subsequent additions were made in the 1830s and 1850s.
Cottage GardensNatchez1795HouseAn early Natchez home built during the Spanish colonial period for Don José Vidal, a Spanish government official in Natchez and later Louisiana. He founded Vidalia, Louisiana across the Mississippi River from Natchez which was named after him in 1811.
House on Ellicott's HillNatchez1798HouseAn early Natchez home that was built for James Moore soon after American control was asserted in Natchez. It was the first house to be restored by the Natchez Garden Club in the 1930s. It is currently operated as a museum.
TexadaNatchez1798–1805HouseAn early Natchez home which is the oldest masonry building in the city.[7] It was built by Manuel Garcia de Texada and in 1805 was listed as the most valuable building in the city.
GloucesterNatchez1803HouseAn early Natchez home designed and built by Levi Weeks for David Williams. Mary McIntosh Williams later inherited the house. She was the wife of Winthrop Sargent who was the first Governor of the Mississippi Territory.
China GroveLorman1804HouseAn early plantation home with a log cabin at its core believed to have been built in 1804. It was built by Revolutionary War veteran Willis McDonald.
The ElmsNatchez1804HouseAn early Natchez home which was constructed by John Henderson, a native of Scotland. It subsequently served as a Presbyterian manse and residence.
Stutzman HouseWoodville1805HouseOne of the oldest remaining buildings in Woodville which was the home of the French Stutzman family.[8]
MistletoeNatchez1807HouseThis house was constructed for Peter Bisland, son of Scottish native John Bisland, as a wedding gift.
MeadvillaWashington1808HouseOne of the oldest remaining buildings in the former town that was built as the home of Cowles Mead, a politician who notably served as the Mississippi Territory Secretary and Acting Governor.
Desert PlantationPinckneyville1808-1812HouseAn early Federal style plantation that was plantation was established by Robert Semple in 1808.
Ford HouseSandy Hook1809HouseIt is one of the oldest homes in the Pearl River Valley and was built by Reverend John Ford. It was the site of two early Mississippi Methodist Conferences (1814 and 1818). Bishop William McKendree and General Andrew Jackson also stayed at the house. It was also the site of the Pearl River Convention in 1816 which sent a delegate to Washington DC to advocate against splitting the Mississippi Territory (then containing modern-day Mississippi and Alabama) in two.
Woodville Baptist ChurchWoodville1809ChurchBelieved to be the oldest church building in the state.
Port Gibson Reveille BuildingPort Gibson1810CommercialAn early Federal style commercial building. Part of the Market Street-Suburb Ste. Mary Historic District.
Miss Phoebe's HousePort Gibson1811HouseAn early house in Port Gibson. Part of the Market Street-Suburb Ste. Mary Historic District.
Salisbury PlantationWoodville1811HouseAn early plantation house that is believed to have been built by Captain Moses Hook. It is named in honor of his home county Salisbury Township in Massachusetts.[9]
Selma PlantationNatchez1811HouseAn early Natchez home that was built for Gerard Chittocque Brandon. His son, Gerard Brandon, was a Mississippi governor.
AuburnNatchez1812HouseA mansion designed and built by Levi Weeks for Lyman Harding, the first Attorney General of Mississippi. It was subsequently owned by the Duncan family from 1820-1911 when it was sold to the city.
Blantonia PlantationLorman1812HouseAn early plantation house built for John Blanton.
Glenfield PlantationNatchez1812HouseThe original portion of this Natchez plantation is believed to have been built around 1812. The property that the house sits on was owned by the Monsanto family for a time.
Holly GroveCentreville1812HouseAn early Federal style plantation that was established by Duncan Stewart, a man from North Carolina.
RosemontWoodville1814HouseIt is also known as Poplar Grove or the Hale House. It was built for the parents of Jefferson Davis and was his boyhood home.
White CottageNatchez1814HouseAlso known as Twin Oaks, this house is believed to have been built around 1814.
RouthlandNatchez1815HouseConstruction on this early house was begun around 1815 for John Routh and was the second house in Natchez to bear that name. The Routh family was one of the wealthiest in Mississippi. It was later owned by Charles Clark a Mississippi Governor and soldier.[10]
617 Market StreetPort Gibson1815CommercialAn early Federal style commercial building. Part of the Market Street-Suburb Ste. Mary Historic District.
623 Market StreetPort Gibson1815CommercialAn early Federal style commercial building. Part of the Market Street-Suburb Ste. Mary Historic District.
710 Market StreetPort Gibson1815CommercialAn early Federal style commercial building. Its second story was removed after a 1968 fire. Part of the Market Street-Suburb Ste. Mary Historic District.
SmithlandKingston1815–1817HouseAn early home that was built for Benijah Smith. It is the only remaining Federal-style building in the settlement of Kingston.[11]
Myrtle BankNatchez1816HouseA home built for George Overaker prior to 1817. In 1835 Alfred and Eliza Cochran expanded the house to its present size and form after purchasing it.
Pecan GroveChurch Hill1816HouseAn early plantation house built by Thomas Baker, a man from New Jersey.
Englesing HomePort Gibson1817HouseAn early home that is claimed by some to be the birthplace of Constance Cary. Part of the Market Street-Suburb Ste. Mary Historic District.
Planter's HotelPort Gibson1817HotelAn early Federal-style hotel. Part of the Market Street-Suburb Ste. Mary Historic District.
The CedarsColumbus1818HouseThe oldest known building in Columbus.
Old Mississippi State CapitolJackson1839CapitolThe oldest known building in Jackson.
Temple Gemiluth ChassedPort Gibson1892SynagogueThe oldest remaining synagogue in the state.

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://lapointekrebs.org/
  2. Web site: Dog Trot House Grand Gulf Military Park . 2023-03-31 . www.grandgulfpark.ms.gov.
  3. Web site: Property . 2023-03-31 . www.apps.mdah.ms.gov.
  4. Web site: Staff Reports . 2023-03-25 . UPDATE: Fire at historic Hope Farm claims life . 2023-04-01 . Mississippi's Best Community Newspaper . en.
  5. Web site: 2011-01-20 . "Richmond," Natchez . 2023-04-01 . Preservation in Mississippi . en.
  6. Web site: Spanish House Grand Gulf Military Park . 2023-03-31 . www.grandgulfpark.ms.gov.
  7. Web site: Property.
  8. Web site: 2019 . 2023-03-31 . 10 Most . en-US.
  9. Web site: Property.
  10. Web site: Property . 2023-04-01 . www.apps.mdah.ms.gov.
  11. Web site: Property . 2023-03-31 . www.apps.mdah.ms.gov.

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