National Register of Historic Places listings in Forrest County, Mississippi facts for kids

Location of Forrest County in Mississippi

Welcome to a special list of historic places in Forrest County, Mississippi! These places are so important that they are on the National Register of Historic Places. This is like a special list kept by the United States government to honor buildings, sites, and objects that are important to our country's history.

When a place is on this list, it means it has a unique story to tell about the past. It might be an old school, a cool theater, or even a military building. Let's explore some of these amazing spots in Forrest County!

Cool Historic Places in Forrest County

Buildings with Unique Stories

Beverly Drive-In Theatre: A Blast from the Past

The Beverly Drive-In Theatre was built in 1948 in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Imagine watching movies outdoors from your car! This was a popular way to see films many years ago. Sadly, this historic theater was destroyed by a fire in 2010.

Camp Shelby's Historic Buildings

Camp Shelby is a large military training base. It has some very old buildings that are part of its history.

• Building 1071 was built in 1938. It was used to house officers, who are leaders in the military.
• Building 6981 is even older, built in 1917. It was an ammunition magazine, which means it stored supplies like bullets and other military equipment during World War I.

East Sixth Street USO Building: A Place for Soldiers

The East Sixth Street USO Building in Hattiesburg was built in 1942. During wartime, USO buildings were important places where soldiers could relax, eat, and be entertained. Today, this building is home to the African American Military History Museum. It teaches us about the brave African American soldiers who served our country.

Eaton Elementary School: An Old Schoolhouse

The Eaton Elementary School in Hattiesburg was built way back in 1905. It's an example of an old school building. While it's not used as a school anymore, it stands as a reminder of how education has changed over the years.

Meador Homestead: A Pioneer Home

The Meador Homestead in Hattiesburg was built in 1885. This old house was a "double pen, dog-trot, log cabin." This means it was a simple log house with two main rooms and an open hallway (the "dog-trot") through the middle. It shows us how people lived long ago.

The New York Hotel: A Unique Style

The New York Hotel in Fruitland Park, Mississippi was built in 1914. It was designed in a style called "Shingle style architecture," which uses a lot of wooden shingles on the outside. It's a cool example of how buildings looked over a hundred years ago.

Old Hattiesburg High School: A School's Legacy

The Old Hattiesburg High School was built around 1911. It served as a high school for many years, educating generations of students. Part of the building was damaged by a fire in 2007, but it remains an important part of Hattiesburg's history.

Saenger Theatre: A Place for Shows

The Saenger Theatre in Hattiesburg was built around 1929. It's a beautiful building designed in the "Art Deco" style, which was very popular in the 1920s and 1930s. Today, it's used as a civic theater and auditorium, hosting many different shows and events.

Tall Pines: A Governor's Home

Tall Pines was built around 1925 as a country house for Paul B. Johnson, Sr., who later became the Governor of Mississippi. It's interesting to see where important people in history lived.

U.S. District Courthouse: From Post Office to Court

The U.S. District Courthouse in Hattiesburg was first built in 1910 as a Post Office. Later, in 1939, it was changed to become a Courthouse, where legal cases are heard. This shows how buildings can change their purpose over time.

U.S. Post Office: Art Deco Style

The current U.S. Post Office in Hattiesburg was built in 1934. It also features the "Art Deco" architectural style, similar to the Saenger Theatre. It's a great example of government buildings from that time period.

Historic Neighborhoods and Districts

Some areas are so full of historic buildings that the whole neighborhood becomes a "historic district." This means the entire area is protected because of its special past.

Hattiesburg Historic Neighborhood District

This large district in Hattiesburg includes many historic homes and buildings. For example, the Sacred Heart Church is located within this district. Walking through this area is like taking a step back in time!

Hub City Historic District

The Hub City Historic District is another important area in Hattiesburg. It includes parts of old U.S. Routes 11 and 49. The McLeod House, built around 1896, is a beautiful example of a historic home in this district.

North Main Street Historic District

This district in Hattiesburg is roughly bounded by several streets and the old Illinois Central railroad tracks. The Montague House, built around 1905, is one of the notable homes in this historic area.

Oaks Historic District

The Oaks Historic District in Hattiesburg is known for its historic buildings. The Hattiesburg Public School Administration Building, which used to be Camp Elementary School (built around 1907), is located here.

Parkhaven Historic District

The Parkhaven Historic District in Hattiesburg includes streets like S. 22nd Avenue and S. 21st Avenue. The Parkhaven Arch, built around 1925, is a landmark in this district.

The University of Southern Mississippi Historic District

Even college campuses can be historic! The University of Southern Mississippi Historic District includes many of the older buildings on the university's campus in Hattiesburg. These buildings tell the story of the university's growth and history.

Ancient Sites

Burkett's Creek Archeological Site

The Burkett's Creek Archeological Site near Hattiesburg is a very special place. It's a "prehistoric domestic and industry/processing/extraction site." This means that long, long ago, before written history, people lived and worked here. Archeologists study sites like this to learn about ancient cultures and how they lived. The exact location of this site is kept secret to protect it.

Images for kids

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  The Beverly Drive-In Theatre, built in 1948.

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  Building 1071 at Camp Shelby, built in 1938.

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  Building 6981, an ammunition magazine at Camp Shelby, built in 1917.

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  The East Sixth Street USO Building, now the African American Military History Museum.

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  Eaton Elementary School, built in 1905.

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  Sacred Heart Church in the Hattiesburg Historic Neighborhood District.

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  The McLeod House (circa 1896) in the Hub City Historic District.

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  The Meador Homestead, a log cabin built in 1885.

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  The New York Hotel, built in 1914.

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  The Montague House (circa 1905) in the North Main Street Historic District.

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  The Hattiesburg Public School Administration Building in the Oaks Historic District.

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  The Old Hattiesburg High School, built around 1911.

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  The Parkhaven Arch (circa 1925) in the Parkhaven Historic District.

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  The Saenger Theatre, built around 1929.

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  Tall Pines, built around 1925 for Paul B. Johnson, Sr.

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  The Aubrey K. Lucas Administration Building at The University of Southern Mississippi.

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  The U.S. District Courthouse, originally built in 1910 as a Post Office.

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  The U.S. Post Office, built in 1934.