Type: Heritage & History
Ole Magnolia (c. 1853)
Named after the stately Magnolia tree in the front lawn, this Greek Revival house was built in 1853. The front door opens to an oversized hallway that runs from the front door to the back of the house, a unique characteristic of the historic “double shotgun” style home. Downstairs, the study and master suite on … Continued
R.E. Hunt Museum & Cultural Center
The R. E. Hunt Museum & Cultural Center is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization founded in 2011 and supported by alumni, volunteers and friends. R. E. Hunt opened its doors during the late 1950s–educating thousands of African American students during a time when segregation and racism plagued our society. Following school integration in 1971, R. … Continued
Concord CME Church (c. 1867)
One of the oldest churches in Columbus, Concord was an African-American church established in Lowndes County in 1867. Prior to the construction of a wooden structure, the congregation met in what was called a “brush arbor,” a collection of limbs and bushes gathered under a large tree in an open grove. The first wooden structure … Continued
Dr. Theodoric V. James Home
Dr. James (believed to have been Columbus’ first African-American doctor) built this home between 1906 and 1912. It is a nice example of the Queen Anne Free Classic style in domestic architecture and is still owned by his descendants.
Horace King Bridge Site
Born as a slave of African, European, and Native American (Catawba) ancestry in Chesterfield District, South Carolina, Horace King was the most respected bridge builder in west Georgia, Alabama, and northeast Mississippi from the 1830s until the 1880s. King moved with his master, John Godwin (1798-1859), a contractor, to Girard, Alabama, a suburb of Columbus, … Continued
Missionary Union Baptist Church (c. 1833)
The Missionary Union Baptist Church, organized in 1833, is the oldest African-American church in Northeast Mississippi. Organized during the days of slavery, services were held in the afternoons on Sundays and Wednesdays in the basement of the First Baptist Church. Some of the first deacons and pastors of this church after it was organized and … Continued
Penny-Savings Bank
The Penny-Savings Bank, founded in the early 1900s, was Columbus’ first African-American bank. W.I. Mitchell served as the president of the bank from 1907 to 1913. In addition to the Penny-Savings Bank, there are several other significant historical facts about this location.nnAccording to an 1873 Business Directory of downtown, the site was the location of … Continued
Queen City Hotel Site
Queen City Hotel was the center of the African-American business district in the mid-twentieth century. It was also the focus of lodging and entertainment for the African-American community. It was constructed, owned and operated in 1909 by Robert Walker, who was once a slave. The hotel played host to such luminaries as Louis Armstrong, Pearl … Continued
W.I. Mitchell Home Site
In 1877, W.I. Mitchell became the first black principal of Union Academy, the first African-American school. Prior to becoming principal, he was also a teacher. From 1907 to 1913, he served as president of The Penny-Savings Bank, the first African-American bank in Columbus.