Elizabeth Female Academy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Elizabeth Female Academy Site (No. 101-3X)
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The ruins
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 Location in Mississippi
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Natchez, Mississippi |
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| Area | 1.5 acres (0.61 ha) |
| Built | 1818 |
| NRHP reference No. | 77000109 |
| Added to NRHP | May 6, 1977 |
The Elizabeth Female Academy was a special school for girls. It opened in 1818 in the town of Washington. This academy was the very first school for girls in Mississippi. It was named after Mrs. Elizabeth Roach, who later became Mrs. Greenfield. She generously donated the land where the school was built.
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History of the Academy
Founding the School
The Elizabeth Female Academy officially received its "charter" on February 17, 1819. A charter is like a special permission slip from the state. It allowed the school to operate legally.
What Students Learned
The school was run by Methodist people. Methodists are a type of Christian group. They believed that teaching good values and spiritual growth was very important. Students learned many subjects. These included chemistry, biology, and even Latin. A famous artist named John James Audubon taught drawing there. He taught art classes in May and June of 1822.
Why the School Closed
The Elizabeth Female Academy closed its doors in 1845. Several things caused it to close. The state capital moved from Natchez to Jackson. This meant fewer people lived nearby. Also, there were several outbreaks of a sickness called yellow fever in the area. These events made it hard for the school to continue.
The Academy Today
A fire in the late 1870s destroyed the school buildings. Now, only a small part of a brick wall remains. In 1977, the site of the Academy was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is a special historical site. You can visit the ruins today. There is a parking area with signs that explain the history. A path leads from the parking area to the old school site. It is located at mile marker 4.1 on the Natchez Trace Parkway.
Notable People from the Academy
