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List of the oldest buildings in Mississippi facts for kids

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This article explores some of the oldest buildings still standing in Mississippi, a state in the United States. Finding the exact age of these buildings can be tricky. Experts use clues like tree rings in the wood (called dendrochronology), how the buildings were designed, and old records.

Long before Europeans arrived, Native Americans lived in this area. They built amazing earthen mounds that are still here today! Later, in 1716, French settlers started the city of Natchez. It became one of the most important early European towns on the Mississippi River. Over time, different countries like France, Spain, and Britain controlled parts of Mississippi before it became part of the U.S. This mix of cultures left behind a cool variety of old buildings.

To be on this list, a building usually needs to be:

  • Built before 1817, which is when Mississippi became a state.
  • Or, it might be the oldest building in a specific area, a big city, or the oldest of its kind (like the oldest government building or a certain style).

Explore Mississippi's Oldest Buildings

Building Image Location Built Around Type Fun Facts
Mississippian Mounds, e.g. Emerald Mound site Emerald Mound Site.JPG All over Mississippi 800–1600 AD Earthen mounds While no original Native American houses from this time are still standing, these large earth mounds were built by ancient people. They are very old and important!
LaPointe-Krebs House LaPointe Krebs House -2022 post restoration.jpg Pascagoula 1757 House/Military This is the oldest building in Mississippi! It's also the only one left from when the French were in charge. It's now a museum you can visit.
Dog Trot House "Scotia" Grand Gulf 1768 House This is the oldest house built by British settlers in Mississippi. It was moved to Grand Gulf Military State Park in 1974. It's special because it uses wooden pegs instead of nails!
King's Tavern King's Tavern.jpg Natchez 1769–1789 Military Many people think this is the second oldest building in Mississippi and the oldest in Natchez. It was built when the British controlled the area.
Mount Locust Mount Locust.jpg Stanton 1780 House/Inn This old British home was also an inn for travelers on the famous Natchez trace road. Today, it's a museum run by the National Park Service.
Hope Farm Hope Farm in Natchez.jpg Natchez 1780–1792 House This historic house in Natchez was once home to a Spanish leader named Carlos de Grand Pré. He was a governor when Spain controlled this area.
Richmond Richmond, Natchez, Adams County, Mississippi LCCN2017892890.jpg Natchez 1784 House This early Natchez house might have been built for a Native American interpreter. A rich banker later owned it and added more parts to the house.
Linden Linden in Natchez.jpg Natchez 1785 House This is another early home in Natchez. It was built for Alexander Moore. Some changes were made to it in 1815.
Springfield Plantation Springfield Plantation.jpg Fayette 1786–1791 House This is one of the oldest, if not the oldest, stone buildings in Mississippi. It's also believed to be where Andrew Jackson, who later became president, had his first wedding!
Spanish House Grand Gulf 1790 House This is one of only two original buildings left in the old "ghost town" of Grand Gulf. It was fixed up in 1958 and is also in the Grand Gulf Military State Park.
Airlie Airlie in Natchez.jpg Natchez 1793 House This Natchez home was built during the time of Spanish rule. More parts were added to it in the 1830s and 1850s.
Cottage Gardens Cottage garden, Natchez, Adams County, Mississippi LCCN2017892868.jpg Natchez 1795 House This Natchez house was built for Don José Vidal, a Spanish government official. The town of Vidalia, Louisiana was named after him!
House on Ellicott's Hill Natchez4Sept2008HouseStepsStreet.jpg Natchez 1798 House This early Natchez home was one of the first to be restored by the Natchez Garden Club in the 1930s. You can visit it as a museum today.
Texada OldestBrickhouse.jpg Natchez 1798–1805 House This is the oldest brick building in Natchez! It was built by Manuel Garcia de Texada and was considered the most valuable building in the city in 1805.
Gloucester Gloucester near Natchez.jpg Natchez 1803 House This Natchez home was designed by Levi Weeks. It was later inherited by the wife of Winthrop Sargent, who was the very first Governor of the Mississippi Territory.
China Grove Lorman 1804 House This old plantation home has a log cabin at its center, believed to be built in 1804. It was built by Willis McDonald, a soldier from the Revolutionary War.
The Elms The Elms (Natchez, Mississippi).JPG Natchez 1804 House This early Natchez home was built by John Henderson from Scotland. It later became a home for Presbyterian ministers.
Stutzman House Woodville 1805 House This is one of the oldest buildings left in Woodville. It was the home of the French Stutzman family.
Mistletoe Natchez 1807 House This house was built as a wedding gift for Peter Bisland, whose father was from Scotland.
Meadvilla Washington 1808 House This is one of the oldest buildings in the former town of Washington. It was built for Cowles Mead, a politician who was a secretary and acting governor of the Mississippi Territory.
Desert Plantation Pinckneyville 1808-1812 House This early plantation was started by Robert Semple in 1808. It's built in an "early Federal" style.
Ford House John Ford Home, Marion County, MS.JPG Sandy Hook 1809 House This is one of the oldest homes in the Pearl River Valley. Important meetings for the Methodist church happened here. Famous people like General Andrew Jackson also stayed at this house.
Woodville Baptist Church Woodville 1809 Church This is believed to be the oldest church building still standing in Mississippi.
Port Gibson Reveille Building Port Gibson 1810 Commercial This is an old building used for businesses in Port Gibson. It's part of a historic area called the Market Street-Suburb Ste. Mary Historic District.
Miss Phoebe's House Market Street-Suburb Ste. Mary Historic District-579.JPG Port Gibson 1811 House This is an early house in Port Gibson, also part of the Market Street-Suburb Ste. Mary Historic District.
Salisbury Plantation Woodville 1811 House This old plantation house was likely built by Captain Moses Hook. It's named after his home area in Massachusetts.
Selma Plantation Selma Plantation House.jpg Natchez 1811 House This early Natchez home was built for Gerard Chittocque Brandon. His son, also named Gerard Brandon, later became a governor of Mississippi.
Auburn Auburn Mansion, Natchez, Mississippi, in April 2011.jpg Natchez 1812 House This large house was designed by Levi Weeks for Lyman Harding, who was the first Attorney General of Mississippi. The city bought it in 1911.
Blantonia Plantation Lorman 1812 House This is an early plantation house built for John Blanton.
Glenfield Plantation Glenfield (formally Glencannon).jpg Natchez 1812 House The oldest part of this Natchez plantation house was built around 1812.
Holly Grove Centreville 1812 House This early plantation was started by Duncan Stewart, who came from North Carolina. It's built in an "early Federal" style.
Rosemont Rosemont Plantation, home of Jefferson Davis.JPG Woodville 1814 House This house was the childhood home of Jefferson Davis, who later became a very important figure in American history.
White Cottage Natchez 1814 House This house, also known as Twin Oaks, is believed to have been built around 1814.
Routhland Natchez 1815 House Construction on this early house started around 1815 for John Routh. The Routh family was one of the richest in Mississippi. Later, Charles Clark, a Mississippi Governor, owned it.
617 Market Street Port Gibson 1815 Commercial Another early business building in Port Gibson, part of the historic district.
623 Market Street Port Gibson 1815 Commercial This is also an early business building in Port Gibson.
710 Market Street Port Gibson 1815 Commercial An early business building in Port Gibson. Its second floor was removed after a fire in 1968.
Smithland Kingston 1815–1817 House This early home was built for Benijah Smith. It's the only "Federal-style" building left in the old settlement of Kingston.
Myrtle Bank MYRTLE BANK.jpg Natchez 1816 House This home was built for George Overaker before 1817. Later owners expanded it to its current size.
Pecan Grove Church Hill 1816 House This early plantation house was built by Thomas Baker, who came from New Jersey.
Englesing Home Port Gibson 1817 House This early home in Port Gibson is believed by some to be the birthplace of Constance Cary Harrison.
Planter's Hotel PortGibson31Aug2008PlantersHotel.jpg Port Gibson 1817 Hotel This is an early hotel building in Port Gibson, built in the "Federal" style.
The Cedars The Cedars, Columbus (Lowndes County, Mississippi).jpg Columbus 1818 House This is the oldest known building in the city of Columbus.
Old Mississippi State Capitol Jackson December 2018 37 (Old Mississippi State Capitol).jpg Jackson 1839 Capitol This building served as the state's capitol and is the oldest known building in Jackson.
Temple Gemiluth Chassed PortGibsonSynagogueFront.jpg Port Gibson 1892 Synagogue This is the oldest synagogue (Jewish house of worship) still standing in Mississippi.

See Also

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