Downtown Starkville to Mississippi State University Walking Tour

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The Greensboro Street Historic District is a historically significant area of Starkville, Mississippi. The district is most notable for its lengthy growth and development, which occurred over a period of roughly six decades. Because of this, the district contains many examples of architectural styles that represent how the preferred style changed throughout the years. The district also became the preferred housing location for civic leaders and merchants in the 1860s and 1870s. Today, several of these preserved homes remain, keeping alive an important part of the area's history. Because of its historical significance, the district is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

2. Starkville City Jail and Johnny Cash (1965)

Known officially as the Oktibbeha County Jail, the Starkville City Jail has a unique history and is best known today for one notable inmate, music legend Johnny Cash. Cash spent one night in jail in Starkville in 1965 after being arrested for public drunkenness. Cash had performed two concerts the evening before and was out late at night when he was brought in, fined, and forced to spend the night in jail.

3. Hotel Chester

Built in 1925 as Hotel Chester, this historic hotel has changed names and changed owners multiple times throughout its nearly 100-year history. Threatened with closure several times, the three-story brick building was saved by new investors and historically-minded community members in each instance. The hotel was most-recently renovated in the 1980s and early 2000s, when new owners purchased the building and re-opened the historic hotel under its original name. Hotel Chester is still serving guests today, growing to accommodate the contemporary needs of its guests.

4. Overstreet School and Historical District

Starkville's Overstreet School has been serving the community since 1897 and is the oldest school that is still in operation within this part of Mississippi. The school was originally part of the Overstreet District, a community that is part of a historic district that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The school was open to whites only until 1965 when the city adopted a plan that allowed parents to select their children's school. In Starkville and other parts of the state, few white students chose to attend schools with Black majorities while Black children and parents who sought to integrate white schools faced consequences from violence to ostracism and the loss of academic and extracurricular opportunities. As a result, integration proceeded slowly unti the Department of Education threatened to withdraw financial support to the city in 1968. Three years later, the city finally worked towards a meaningful integration plan. Overstreet School is open to all and continues to educate students today, making the institution an important part of Starkville'e past, present, and future. The historical district around the school was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1992.

5. Oktibbeha County Heritage Museum

The Oktibbeha County Heritage Museum was established in 1976 to preserve and promote the county's heritage. It is housed in the old Mobile and Ohio Railroad Depot, which has been renovated and expanded over the years to accommodate the museum's needs. Visitors will find all kinds of antique and contemporary items on display, all of which seek to capture the history of Oktibbeha County and its unique culture. The museum features many permanent exhibits that deal directly with Oktibbeha County's history alongside rotating exhibits that draw in returning visitors. The museum also seeks to involve the community in its work, partnering with other organizations for projects that expand the museum and the ways it is able to appeal to visitors. With a goal of preserving and sharing the area's rich history, the Oktibbeha County Heritage Museum is an important piece of the Starkville community.

6. Odd Fellows Cemetery (Starkville)

The Odd Fellows Cemetery, once known as the Starkville Colored Cemetery, dates back to the purchase of land by former slaves after the Civil War. These former slaves built a church and established a burial ground, making this historic African American Cemetery is one of the oldest Black-owned cemeteries in the state of Mississippi. The oldest gravestone that can be identified dates back to 1882. After suffering years of neglect, the cemetery has been restored in order to make it a fitting final resting place for many prominent African American citizens.

7. Nash Street Historic District

The Nash Street Historic District is the oldest and most well-preserved subdivision in the Starkville area. The district contains 13 buildings that contribute to the historical significance of the area. Comprised of 1930s Great Depression Era homes, the district is a representation of Starkville's growth from an agricultural center to a university town. Located 15 minutes from Mississippi State University, the district gives a unique look at Starkville's past and the rich history it holds.

8. The Cotton District

The Cotton District is a housing development that primarily functions as student and faculty housing for Mississippi State University. The district is located adjacent to the university campus, making it an easily accessible area for students and faculty alike. The district was once the site of a large cotton mill, the area's historical namesake. Adjacent to the cotton mill was an area that contained houses for workers and their families, shops, and even schools, giving the area a unique history of both agriculture and economic development. The transformation of the community into a housing and shopping district represents the urban development of an area that still references the culture of the historic deep south in its architectural style.

9. Cullis & Gladys Wade Clock Museum

The Cullis & Gladys Wade Clock Museum is part of the Mississippi State University Campus. The museum is located in the University Welcome Center, inside the Cullis Wade Depot. The museum displays over 400 antique clocks and watches, the oldest dating back to the early 1700s. The museum is comprised of the clock collection of Cullis and Gladys Wade. During their marriage, the couple collected clocks from the United States, England, France, and Germany. The Wade's clocks remain in the Welcome Center today, where visitors can view them and hear them chime.

10. Davis Wade Stadium- Mississippi State Stadium 1914 Scott Field

Davis Wade Stadium, officially known as Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field, is a stadium used for football located just outside the city limits of Starkville, Mississippi, United States, on the campus of Mississippi State University. It serves as the home stadium for the Mississippi State Bulldogs football team. Originally constructed in 1914 as New Athletic Field, it is the second-oldest stadium in the Football Bowl Subdivision behind Georgia Tech's Bobby Dodd Stadium, and the fourth oldest in all of college football behind Penn's Franklin Field, Harvard Stadium, and Bobby Dodd Stadium. As of 2016, it has a seating capacity of 61,337 people. Davis Wade stadium was built to replace the Hardy Field which was used mostly for concerts and other forms of entertainment besides American Football. There have been many renovations since they began building the stadium in 1914.

11. MSU Chapel of Memories

The Chapel of Memories is a place of reflection and celebration for generations of Mississippi State students and alumni, thousands of which have chosen this venue for their weddings. The Chapel of Memories was built from the bricks of the Old Main dormitory, the first building on campus that operated from 1879 till its destruction by an accidental fire in 1959. The chapel was completed in 1965. The 183 bells of the carillon provide one of the most memorable sounds on campus. This bell tower is also made of bricks recovered from the fire of 1959, and its construction was made possible by a gift from alumni George D. Perry.

12. Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library

Established in 2012, this presidential library offers exhibits and records related to the life and career of Ulysses S. Grant, the 18th President of the United States, as well as the history of his years in office. Similar to other Presidential libraries, the organization is operated through private support and the National Archives. The Library includes artifacts, research collections, and personal effects that were owned by Grant and members of his family. This presidential library was opened on the 50th anniversary of the funding of the Ulysses S. Grant Association and receives administrative support from the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration. In addition to private donors, the library has received federal support from the National Endowment for the Humanities and other entities.

13. Industrial Education Building, Mississippi State University

The Industrial Education Building is the oldest academic building on the Mississippi State University campus. Built in 1900, the building was originally known as the Textile Building at the time of its construction. It was built as part of the campus of the Mississippi Agricultural and Mechanical College, an institution that would later grow into Mississippi State University. The building was later known as the Textile and Seed Building before the textile college closed, opening the building for new uses. Today, it is home to the Instructional Systems and Workforce Development Department.

14. Bust of Stephen D. Lee

This bust honors Stephen Dill Lee, who became the first president of the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Mississippi in 1880. Lee is most famous as a regular army officer who joined his state in secession and delivered P.G.T. Beauregard's ultimatum to the Union commander of Fort Sumter. When the Union garrison refused to abandon their post, as Beauregard had demanded, the Confederacy fired upon the fort, effectively starting the Civil War. Lee served as a Lieutenant General throughout the war and became a planter in Columbus Mississippi during Reconstruction. Despite spending most of his life as a soldier, his political connections led to his appointment as the president of the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Mississippi, which was authorized by the state legislature in 1878 and began its first semester with Lee at the helm in 1880.

This Tour is a Walking Tour.

Downtown Starkville to Mississippi State University Walking Tour

Created by Madeline Merritt on August 11th 2019, 10:21:40 am.

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Description

This tour offers an overview of the history of the downtown Starkville area, with stops at several historic buildings and other landmarks that collectively tell the story of the city and its people. Included on this tour are historic buildings and districts, museums, cemeteries, and more. The tour continues east to the Mississippi State University Campus and includes several of the most unique buildings, monuments, and museums on campus. This tour gives a brief overview of the historical sites in the Starkville area, allowing visitors to experience Starkville's culture and heritage firsthand.

Entries on This Tour

Downtown Starkville to Mississippi State University Walking Tour

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