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List of the oldest buildings in Mississippi

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:

  • date to Mississippi statehood in 1817 or prior; or
  • be the oldest building in a region, large city, or oldest of its type (government building, style, etc.)

List

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Building Image Location First Built Type Notes
Mississippian Mounds, e.g. Emerald Mound site   Throughout state 800–1600 Earthen mounds Though no original Native American buildings remain above ground, a number of constructed platform mounds have been preserved.
LaPointe-Krebs House   Pascagoula 1757 House/Military The 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 Gulf 1768 House The 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 Tavern   Natchez 1769–1789 Military Traditionally 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 Locust   Stanton 1780 House/Inn An early British home, plantation, and Inn built along the old Natchez trace. Operated as a museum by the National Park Service.
Hope Farm   Natchez 1780–1792 House An 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]
Richmond   Natchez 1784 House An 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.
Linden   Natchez 1785 House An early Natchez home that was built for Alexander Moore . Later additions or alterations in 1815.
Springfield Plantation   Fayette 1786–1791 House It 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 House Grand Gulf 1790 House The 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]
Airlie   Natchez 1793 House An early Natchez home built by planter Stephen Minor during the Spanish colonial period. Subsequent additions were made in the 1830s and 1850s.
Cottage Gardens   Natchez 1795 House An 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 Hill   Natchez 1798 House An 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.
Texada   Natchez 1798–1805 House An 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.
Gloucester   Natchez 1803 House An 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 Grove Lorman 1804 House An 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 Elms   Natchez 1804 House An early Natchez home which was constructed by John Henderson, a native of Scotland. It subsequently served as a Presbyterian manse and residence.
Stutzman House Woodville 1805 House One of the oldest remaining buildings in Woodville which was the home of the French Stutzman family.[8]
Mistletoe Natchez 1807 House This house was constructed for Peter Bisland, son of Scottish native John Bisland, as a wedding gift.
Meadvilla Washington 1808 House One 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 Plantation Pinckneyville 1808-1812 House An early Federal style plantation that was plantation was established by Robert Semple in 1808.
Ford House   Sandy Hook 1809 House It 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 Church Woodville 1809 Church Believed to be the oldest church building in the state.
Port Gibson Reveille Building Port Gibson 1810 Commercial An early Federal style commercial building. Part of the Market Street-Suburb Ste. Mary Historic District.
Miss Phoebe's House   Port Gibson 1811 House An early house in Port Gibson. Part of the Market Street-Suburb Ste. Mary Historic District.
Salisbury Plantation Woodville 1811 House An 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 Plantation   Natchez 1811 House An early Natchez home that was built for Gerard Chittocque Brandon. His son, Gerard Brandon, was a Mississippi governor.
Auburn   Natchez 1812 House A 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 Plantation Lorman 1812 House An early plantation house built for John Blanton.
Glenfield Plantation   Natchez 1812 House The 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 Grove Centreville 1812 House An early Federal style plantation that was established by Duncan Stewart, a man from North Carolina.
Rosemont   Woodville 1814 House It 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 Cottage Natchez 1814 House Also known as Twin Oaks, this house is believed to have been built around 1814.
Routhland Natchez 1815 House Construction 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 Street Port Gibson 1815 Commercial An early Federal style commercial building. Part of the Market Street-Suburb Ste. Mary Historic District.
623 Market Street Port Gibson 1815 Commercial An early Federal style commercial building. Part of the Market Street-Suburb Ste. Mary Historic District.
710 Market Street Port Gibson 1815 Commercial An early Federal style commercial building. Its second story was removed after a 1968 fire. Part of the Market Street-Suburb Ste. Mary Historic District.
Smithland Kingston 1815–1817 House An early home that was built for Benijah Smith. It is the only remaining Federal-style building in the settlement of Kingston.[11]
Myrtle Bank   Natchez 1816 House A 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 Grove Church Hill 1816 House An early plantation house built by Thomas Baker, a man from New Jersey.
Englesing Home Port Gibson 1817 House An 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 Hotel   Port Gibson 1817 Hotel An early Federal-style hotel. Part of the Market Street-Suburb Ste. Mary Historic District.
The Cedars   Columbus 1818 House The oldest known building in Columbus.
Old Mississippi State Capitol   Jackson 1839 Capitol The oldest known building in Jackson.
Temple Gemiluth Chassed   Port Gibson 1892 Synagogue The oldest remaining synagogue in the state.

See also

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References

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